Vilnius Airport is building a new passenger departures terminal (T4). The reconstruction and building works are way ahead of schedule and we will be able to use the advantages of the new terminal already in early 2025. Upon completion, the total area of all passenger terminals at Vilnius Airport will increase by a third, and passenger throughput will double—from 1,200 passengers per hour to 2,400.

Žydrė Gavelienė, the General manager of Estravel has visited the construction site and shares her thoughts: “The future departures terminal is going to be great! We are looking forward to: quick and self-service baggage drop, no need to take laptops and other electronic devices out of backpacks anymore, significantly faster security checks, double the passenger capacity, and even 40 check-in counters.”

The construction and renovation of Vilnius Airport have been declared a matter of national importance in Lithuania. The new departure terminal will cover an area of 14,400 square meters. Once completed, this terminal will increase the capacity of Vilnius airport to at least 7.8 million passengers annually. Additionally, the vehicle access infrastructure will be upgraded, including new road surfaces, canopies, and more, which is a significant enhancement.

“I believe that the new Vilnius Airport terminal will attract even greater traveler traffic, increase the number of flights, and expand the list of vacation destinations from Lithuania. The expansion will also bring other positive developments. The new spaces will feature self-service check-in points, which will not only save travelers time but also ensure faster security checks and shorter lines for flight check-in.” – says Diana Žymančienė, Head of E-business at Estravel.

High standards were set for the facade to strive for a carbon-neutral airport. The design focuses on optimal structures and materials, allowing maximum natural light and heating while ensuring proper insulation to maintain temperature. These measures, combined with unique engineering, aim to reduce operational costs and environmental impact.

In the new passenger departure terminal, there will be:

• a passenger check-in area,
• a self-service area where baggage can be dropped off independently,
• security screening areas,
• departure/arrival gates for Schengen passengers,
• commercial retail areas and airline offices,
• and other public spaces.

The building of the new departures terminal is a part of long term expansion plans of Lithuanian airports. In the future, Lithuanian airports (Vilnius Airport, Kaunas Airport, and Palanga Airport) aim to service around 17 million passengers annually—up from approximately 6 million in 2023. After the new departures terminal at Vilnius Airport opens, construction on a new arrivals terminal will begin, with completion expected in 2027. The renovation of the existing terminal, which will be adapted for commercial spaces, is scheduled to be finished by 2028.