VILNIUS LOSES 1 SUMMER ROUTE AS LITHUANIA FALLS BEHIND FASTER‑GROWING CEE MARKETS
Ryanair, Europe’s No.1 airline, today (Wed, 11 Mar) confirmed it will deliver zero growth in Lithuania for Summer ’26, with no new routes and flat capacity at Vilnius and across Lithuania, as rising airport access costs continue to block recovery, limit connectivity and prevent the country from unlocking its full potential for tourism, jobs, and economic growth.
Despite overall capacity remaining flat, Vilnius will lose 1 route in Summer ’26 as Ryanair is forced to reallocate this capacity to lower-cost, high-growth markets elsewhere in Central and Eastern Europe.
While competing CEE markets such as Slovakia and Poland are growing strongly – attracting more routes and increased capacity as they reduce access costs and support aviation – Lithuania is moving in the opposite direction. Lithuanian Airports’ decision to hike charges – including a +30% increase at Vilnius since 2023 – has left the country uncompetitive, with airlines reallocating capacity to lower‑cost, growth‑focused markets across the region.
This lack of competitiveness is particularly damaging in Vilnius, where the opening of the new terminal – doubling capacity from 4m to 8m passengers – should be driving a step‑change in growth, connectivity and inbound tourism. Instead, Vilnius is stagnating, losing 1 Ryanair summer route and gaining no new ones for Summer ’26, while airports in Slovakia, Poland and other CEE markets are benefiting from Ryanair growth, new routes and additional based aircraft.
Unless the Lithuanian Government acts urgently to reduce access costs – especially at Vilnius – Lithuania will continue to miss out on traffic growth, tourism, and jobs as capacity is redirected to states that actively support aviation and tourism.
Ryanair’s Head of Comms for CEE & Baltics, Alicja Wójcik-Gołębiowska said:
“It is regrettable but entirely avoidable that Ryanair will deliver zero growth in Lithuania for Summer ’26, with flat overall capacity and no new routes – and even more concerning that Vilnius will lose 1 summer route as a direct result of rising access costs. Lithuanian airports’ decision to increase charges – including a 30% hike at Vilnius – has made Lithuania uncompetitive versus other CEE markets.
While countries like Slovakia and Poland are winning new routes and capacity by keeping airport costs low and supporting aviation, Lithuania is choosing higher charges, no growth and route losses. Instead of using Vilnius’ expanded terminal capacity as a catalyst to boost connectivity, tourism and jobs, rising access costs are holding the airport – and the wider economy – back.
Ryanair wants to grow in Lithuania, base more aircraft, add new routes and deliver lower fares for Lithuanian consumers, but this can only happen if the Government and Lithuanian Airports reverse course and cut access costs. Unless urgent action is taken to restore competitiveness, Vilnius will continue to stagnate and lose routes while other CEE markets thrive, and Lithuanian passengers, tourism and jobs will lose out as capacity is reallocated to lower‑cost, higher‑growth countries.”