According to the Air Navigation Service Provider SE Oro navigacija, the number of transit flights increased by 10.2%, compared to the same period last year.
The total number of flights handled in the Lithuanian airspace in March made up 19.5 thousand and was higher by 10.4% than in the same period last year. Transit flights (14.5 thousand) made up three quarters of this number, and if compared to last year, increased by 11.5%.
During the first three months of this year, the largest number of flights in the Lithuanian airspace was operated by five air companies: Russia’s Aeroflot (5 thousand, or more by 16.8% than in the same period last year), Latvia’s Air Baltic (4.8 thousand, more by 14.1%), Finland’s Finnair (4.78 thousand, more by 2.7%), Germany’s Lufthansa (3.8 thousand, more by 0.5%), and Ireland’s Ryanair (3 thousand flights, more by 11%). The above-mentioned number includes all the flights: transit flights and flights taking off from/landing at the Lithuanian airports.
The above-mentioned air companies were major users of the Lithuanian airspace in the first quarter last year as well. Only this year, according to the number of flights operated over the period January–March, the Latvian and Finnish airlines have changed places. Air Baltic (third place last year) operated by 27 flights more and outran Finnair which came second.
Over the period January–March 2018, the largest number of aircraft were taking off from/landing at Vilnius airport (10.3 thousand aircraft handled by air traffic controllers). The numbers of aircraft movements handled in Kaunas, Palanga and Šiauliai were 1.96 thousand, 758 and 595, respectively.
Lithuanian airspace has been included into air routes of over 900 air companies. To ensure that flights are operated safely, efficiently and on time, air navigation services are provided to aircraft from the moment of launching an engine and starting from a parking area to the moment of landing at an aerodrome of destination. Air navigation services in the Lithuanian airspace and Lithuanian airports are provided by SE Oro navigacija.