Lithuania has allocated state funds for attracting new flights from various countries. There are no requests for flights to new destinations in Ukraine, but increase of the number of flights on the Kyiv (the Boryspil airport) - Vilnius route is being proposed.
According to the state-owned Lithuanian Airports company (Lietuvos oro uostai), the deadline for air carriers to apply to participate in the state financial support program is 23 October.
The company’s tender letter states that although the list of desirable destinations to which the numbers of flights are expected to increase consists of only 18 destinations (one of which is Boryspil) and that airlines can also propose their destinations to which more flights are needed. According to the letter, these include flights not only to/from Vilnius, but also to/from Kaunas and Palanga.
The following requirements are set for new flights: ticket sales should start no later than 6 November this year; the date of launch of additional flights should not be later than 31 May 2017 and the flights must be operated for at least three months after that.
The Lithuanian Airports company also proposed launching new flights to these three cities. The corresponding lists of desirable destinations do not include Ukraine, but there is clarification that airlines may initiate the launch of new flights to any destinations and that the company will consider such initiatives. The conditions for eligibility for state financial support are the same for additional flights to existing destinations. However, in addition, the flight program on a new route must provide for at least two flights per week.
As stated in the tender conditions, the maximum possible amount of Lithuanian state financial support for an air carrier is EUR 200,000 over a period of three years. Recipients of state financial support will be selected on a competitive basis, taking into account such factors as the economic return from the launch of a new flight (an additional flight) and the date and time of application.
