Lithuanian airports to challenge airBaltic's decision to end Vilnius–Düsseldorf flights

LTOU, the operator of Lithuania's airports, plans to challenge a decision by Latvia's national airline airBaltic to stop flying the Vilnius–Düsseldorf (Germany) route from 23 November. LTOU wants to recover the funds invested in developing the route. airBaltic announced the contract termination in connection with a restructuring process it has launched in a US court.

airBaltic's explanation

The airline said on Tuesday that the route, opened in 2024, did not live up to expectations. Passenger demand and revenue were lower than projected in the route's business plan, while flight costs, particularly fuel, exceeded initial forecasts.

LTOU's position

LTOU acknowledges that the restructuring process gives the airline the right to review its contracts, but considers the route commercially promising and economically beneficial to both sides. It will therefore defend its position in the US restructuring proceedings and, if needed, contest the termination in Lithuania.

"We understand that an airline's restructuring can lead to difficult business decisions, but contractual obligations cannot be broken unilaterally," said Diāna Bankauskienė, acting head of LTOU, in a statement. If the demand to honour the commitments is not met, further legal steps will follow to protect the interests of the Lithuanian airport and the state and to recover the funds invested, she added.

Next steps

LTOU stresses that the route remains one of its strategic priorities, so it will open talks with other carriers to restore direct flights as soon as possible.

The risk-sharing agreement with airBaltic for this route was signed in October 2024. According to LTOU, 37,000 passengers have been carried since then, equal to 2.6% of total passenger traffic between Lithuania and Germany. Flights operated twice a week.