Lithuanian airports announced an invitation to participate in a public tender, the winning airline of which will start providing transportation services from Vilnius to London City Airport already next year. The Ministry of Economy and Communications recognized the new route as vital for the country's economic and social development.
According to the Minister of Transport Rokos Masiulis, efforts are constantly being made to make as many new destinations as possible available to Lithuanian passengers. In addition, regular flights and convenient connections to the City of London will contribute to ensuring even better visibility of our country.
"The new route is important for increasing the accessibility of Lithuania, the number of direct flights to our country's airports and improving the image of Lithuania. Undoubtedly, the emergence of new routes is important in order to strengthen the tourism, transport and service sectors in the country", says the Minister of Communications.
"Over the past three years, Lithuania has lost more than 4300 new jobs simply because it could not offer foreign investors a business segment-oriented flight between Vilnius and London. Bearing in mind that UK companies are one of the most active investors in Lithuania and their main competitors - Central and Eastern European countries - it is necessary to have a convenient flight that allows business representatives to fly to Lithuania in the morning and return to London at the end of the working day", says Minister of Economy Virginijus Sinkevičius .
The authority to administer the public tender was granted to Lithuanian airports. According to the general director of the company, Marius Gelžinis, the main responsibility is to ensure that the tender process is carried out smoothly.
"We communicate directly and establish contacts with air carriers. We are actively looking for opportunities for cooperation with potential partners, therefore we are obliged to conduct a public tender for airlines that can fly the route Vilnius-London City Airport, - says M. Gelžinis. - We will make sure that the offers of air carriers are submitted in accordance with the requirements for the provision of public services for this tender. After airlines have submitted proposals, the winner of the tender will be determined by a special commission, which will be formed by the Ministries of Economy and Transport, Public Enterprises "Invest in Lithuania" and representatives of Lithuanian airports."
The Ministry of Economy has planned to award compensation to the air carrier selected through a tender for the provision of public services. According to the stipulated minimum tender standards, direct passenger flight tickets will have to be distributed at market prices. The airlines will commit to operate the flights from Monday to Friday and on Saturday or Sunday at least once a day - that is, no less than six and no more than twelve times a week. Passengers will be flown on the new route all year round.
Estimated departure time from London City Airport is between 06.00:10.30 and 16.00:20.00. or from 98:XNUMX p.m. to XNUMX:XNUMX p.m. local time. Airlines participating in the competition must ensure at least XNUMX seats per flight on the aircraft.
According to M. Gelžinis, the head of Lithuanian airports, it is planned that the first passengers from Vilnius to London City will be able to take off already in the spring of next year, and the winning airline will organize the flights for at least four years.
If, during the course of the tender, an airline appears, intending to provide transportation services on the route Vilnius airport-London City Airport without compensation, the tender would be terminated after coordination with the Ministries of Economy and Transport.
