Vilnius Airport in Lithuania is to get a new terminal, built by the country’s Mitnija construction company. Lithuanian Airports, a state-owned entity, awarded the company a contract for the 155,000ft2 (14,400m2) passenger terminal as well as the redevelopment of another 366,000ft2 (34,000m2) of access areas, with completion due in 2022.
The facility will be built in the northern area of the airport, between the existing terminal and the recently constructed VIP terminal, increasing the total area of Vilnius’s terminals by one-third, and passenger capacity from the current 900 to 2,400 passengers per hour.
The two-story terminal building will house passenger check-in and public spaces, as well as cafés, airline company offices and other commercial premises on the ground floor. On the second story will be a security check area and departure gates for Schengen passengers. The new and existing terminals will be connected by a covered gallery.
“We are now launching one of the most important stages of this four-year project,” said Dainius Čiuplys, head of Vilnius Airport. “Detailed planning of works and needs has taken several years. The project is necessary for increasing the capacity of Vilnius Airport and becomes even more relevant in an attempt to adapt to the new challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic. It will enable even more efficient distancing. Its successful implementation calls not only for a modern, large area, but also for technological solutions inside of it. The new terminal will therefore have a much more modern infrastructure designed for passenger convenience, more automated solutions and more self-service.”
According to Čiuplys, investments in the new terminal are planned to pay off in 10 to 15 years. Actual works and the preparation of the site for the new building should begin shortly. During all scheduled work, the airport will operate as usual.
