Vilnius Airport has launched an international public call for tenders from contractors interested in building a new departures terminal.
Construction of this 14,400m2 terminal, in the northern part of the Lithuanian hub, will increase the overall passenger terminal size at Vilnius Airport by a third, and passenger throughput will double – from 1,200 passengers an hour to 2,400.
The reconstruction of the ground accessibility system in front of Vilnius Airport will be carried out simultaneously with the construction of the new terminal: the engineering networks will be renovated, the pavement will be replaced, and a new, much more efficient transport scheme will be developed. Vilnius Airport has already launched a public call for tenders for the implementation of these works and is currently looking for the most suitable partner.
Lithuanian Airports
“The new building will be A ++ energy class. Our goal is to ensure that the new terminal building is BREEAM Good-certified,” said Arnas Dūmanas, head of project management at Lithuanian Airports, which owns Vilnius Airport.
Dūmanas continued, “The airport is an unconventional place that requires special safety and attention. For this reason, specific conditions are set for the construction contractor. It will be necessary to ensure, during construction, the uninterrupted operation of the current terminal and of the infrastructure and to safeguard passenger comfort. Construction quality and deadlines are among the essential objectives of the project.”
The new passenger departures terminal will sit between the existing departures terminal and the VIP Terminal and Conference Centre. The new building will be two-storied, with a self-service check-in area on its ground floor. It will also be equipped with common public spaces, cafes and other commercial areas, and airline offices.
Lithuanian Airports
Technical areas such as luggage screening and sorting facilities, and rooms for engineering systems, are being designed in the eastern part of the building. A security screening area, as well as departure and arrival gates for Schengen passengers, will be on the second floor. The new terminal will be connected to the existing passenger terminal by a walkway, and will also feature two new airbridges.
According to Dainius Čiuplys, head of operations and infrastructure at Lithuanian Airports, the construction of the new terminal is just one stage in the reconstruction of the airport, which is necessary to accommodate growing passenger numbers and improve the passenger experience.
‘The new terminal will expand the operational and technological possibilities of the airport, allowing us to increase the range of non-aviation services,” he added.
Vilnius Airports plans to select a contractor by the middle of 2022 and to start construction work on the new terminal immediately afterwards. Passengers could be welcomed into the new terminal as early as the second half of 2024.
