The Baltic States are clearly harbouring great ambitions to make their mark on the international mobility scene. The airport of Riga awaits its new terminal and business district, RIX Airport Cityon the horizon 2028. And the inauguration of the new Riga-Vilnius train line was celebrated a year ago. And at the start of 2025, it's towards Vilnius where all eyes are focused. The Lithuanian capital is also working hard to improve its international connectivity. Its airport is preparing to take on a whole new dimension, with the imminent inauguration of a new terminal. The project is in the process of being finalised, and above all put through its paces in final tests.
The last of these took place on January 11th last year. It brought together more than a thousand volunteers and 140 members of airport staff and partners to simulate the departure of six flights, and the capacity of the infrastructure and teams at Lithuanian Airports to manage the expected new passenger flows. No more and no less than a doubling the capacity of Vilnius airport. " The terminal will double the capacity of Vilnius Airport, and our aim is to guarantee an exceptional passenger experience at the same time. "says Simonas Bartkus, CEO of Lithuanian Airports. " We are deeply grateful to all the testers who gave their time to this project. Their genuine experience and feedback will enable us to assess the terminal's performance under conditions of high demand, resolve any problems and implement improvements. This is the first time in the airport's history that we have involved the public in such a complex and unique project. ".
See you in Vilnius on 4 February
The inauguration of the new departures terminal is scheduled for 4 Februaryin the morning. It will undoubtedly mark a major new stage in the history of the airport and the Lithuanian capital. Its capacity will increase from 1,200 to 2,400 passengers per hourGiedrius Paulikaitis explains. The head of technological development at Lithuanian airports explains: " Our main challenge has been to integrate different systems so that they work like a living organism, with artificial intelligence playing a crucial role. The innovations are designed to help passengers and their luggage move around the airport faster, safer and more comfortably. During the mass test, we will be analysing the performance and interaction of the systems. It will also allow the teams to apply new skills and knowledge in real-life conditions while adapting to these technological advances. ".
The new terminal at Vilnius airport should be able to use the Rapiscan scanner, a 7.5-tonne machine based on computer tomography and designed to scan checked baggage. According to the people in charge of the project: " Two such devices form the backbone of the baggage screening system. Using this technology, security specialists can view 3D images of baggage contents, with a four-level security screening process being implemented at Vilnius airport. In addition, artificial intelligence is used to identify the various items and substances contained in passengers' baggage. ".
