Lithuanian Airports Begin Preparations for Legal Action to Defend Their and Partners’ Interests
Lithuanian Airports (LTOU) are beginning preparations for a legal process aimed at defending their own and their partners’ interests. The losses caused by balloons coming from Belarus have not yet been quantified, but it is clear that significant direct and indirect damage has been done to the state, passengers, Lithuanian Airports, airlines, and other partners.
“The most important thing is the safety of passengers and residents. We must make it absolutely clear that any hostile or criminal attempts to disrupt our airspace will not be tolerated. We seek the strictest accountability for all those involved in jeopardizing the safety of Lithuania’s airspace and passengers,” said Minister of Transport Juras Taminskas.
The airports maintain the position that activities hostile to the state and the entire aviation sector must be assessed strictly, and those organizing smuggling operations must be held appropriately accountable.
“Safety is our highest priority. We will not tolerate any attempts to undermine the security of Lithuania’s airspace. At the moment, active consultations are taking place regarding the use of legal measures to protect the interests of affected parties and hold accountable those responsible for illegal actions that disrupt flights and inconvenience thousands of passengers. We are cooperating with law enforcement authorities, airline representatives, and other partners to find a collective solution that reflects our shared losses,” said Vidas Kšanas, Director of the Safety, Security, and Resilience Department at Lithuanian Airports. He believes that this LTOU initiative will be supported by more stakeholders.
According to Kšanas, the legal process is expected to proceed in stages, and currently, an assessment of all direct and indirect damages is underway. Representatives of airlines and ground service providers affected by flight cancellations, diversions, and delays have already been invited to participate in the process. It is also known that law enforcement authorities have already launched pre-trial investigations into criminal acts related to smuggling, which means that the affected parties will have the opportunity to file civil claims for the damages incurred.
According to the airports’ estimates, the airlines’ losses amount to hundreds of thousands of euros. Kšanas noted that it is still difficult to assess the full financial damage to the aviation industry, the companies operating within it, and Lithuanian Airports itself.
He is convinced that the total direct and indirect damage is substantial, as these incidents reduce the country’s attractiveness, cause inconvenience to passengers, and increase costs for all parties involved in managing non-standard situations. Passengers are forced to plan alternative travel routes or choose airports in other countries. The incidents also damage trust in Lithuanian Airports and the country’s reputation.
“That is why we are making every possible effort to minimize inconvenience for passengers and ensure that people can reach their travel destinations,” said Kšanas.
Last updated: 03-11-2025
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