CALLS ON THE LITHUANIAN GOVT TO REDUCE ACCESS COSTS TO SUPPORT GROWTH

Ryanair, Europe’s No.1 airline, today (Wed, 8 Oct) confirmed it will deliver zero growth in Lithuania for Winter ’25, 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.

While competing European countries such as Albania, Hungary, Poland, Sweden, and Italy are reducing costs and abolishing aviation taxes to stimulate airline traffic, Lithuania is moving in the opposite direction. Instead of lowering costs to drive recovery, Lithuanian Airports have inexplicably chosen to increase airport charges – with Vilnius up +30% since 2023 – leaving the airport uncompetitive and traffic still -2% below pre-Covid levels.

This lack of competitiveness is particularly damaging in Vilnius, where the opening of the new terminal – which has doubled capacity at the Airport – should represent a huge opportunity for Lithuania to expand connectivity, develop inbound tourism and create jobs. However, rising access costs are stifling this opportunity, and if the Government acts now to make Lithuania more competitive and reduces airport fees – especially at Vilnius – Ryanair is ready to deliver its transformational growth plan which will double traffic from 1.4m to 2.8m seats, add 10 new routes and base 3 additional aircraft (5 tot.), creating jobs and boosting tourism in Lithuania’s capital city.

Ryanair’s CCO, Jason McGuinness, said:

“It’s disappointing that Ryanair will deliver zero growth in Lithuania for Winter ’25, which is entirely the result of the rising access costs at Lithuanian airports – with Lithuanian Airports choosing to raise charges at Vilnius by 30% and Palanga by 7%. These increases, at a time when other European countries are cutting costs to drive growth, are leaving Lithuania hopelessly uncompetitive, slowing its recovery and resulting in reduced connectivity, forcing the reallocation of capacity to faster-growing, lower-cost markets across Europe.

The opening of the expanded Vilnius terminal has doubled available capacity at the Airport, providing a clear opportunity to boost connectivity, tourism, and jobs – but rising access costs are holding Vilnius back, preventing the airport and Lithuania from turning this potential into tangible growth and enhanced connectivity.

While countries like Albania, Hungary, Poland, Sweden, and Italy are reducing access costs to stimulate traffic growth, regrettably Lithuania is going in the opposite direction. Ryanair urges the Lithuanian Govt. to reduce access costs and become far more competitive to unlock Ryanair’s ambitious growth plan – doubling Vilnius traffic from 1.4m to 2.8m seats p.a., creating jobs, and boosting tourism and economic growth. Without urgent action, fares for Lithuanian passengers will rise and Ryanair will continue to allocate aircraft and capacity to more competitive growth orientated markets elsewhere in Europe.”