Ryanair, Europe’s no.1 airline, today (27 Jan) announced that it will reduce its Summer 2023 schedule at Vilnius by 30% – cutting 2 routes and flights on a further 11 routes – in response to Vilnius Airport’s illogical decision to increase its charges by 28% from 1^st Jan 2023.  

The Lithuanian Regulator’s decision to allow Vilnius Airport’s excessive 2023 price increase, despite objections from all the main airlines, has failed to protect passengers from the monopoly airport’s price gouging. This unjustified price increase is already damaging Vilnius’s tourism, connectivity, traffic and jobs as evidenced by these Summer 2023 cuts.   

Ryanair’s Dara Brady said: 

“We regret these which are caused solely by Vilnius Airport’s illogical decision to increase its charges by a whopping 28%, which makes flying to/from Vilnius more expensive and less competitive compared to the many other EU airports that are lowering prices to recover traffic lost during Covid or are freezing charges to stimulate passenger growth.  

Instead, Vilnius Airport has decided to increase its charges and damage local tourism, connectivity, traffic and jobs as evidenced by these cuts for Summer 2023. We call on the Lithuanian Regulator to review its decision and reject this illogical and excessive price increase or otherwise risk further damage to Lithuania’s connectivity.”