Šiauliai mayor urges government to resolve critical airport situation

Šiauliai Mayor Artūras Visockas has called on Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė to address the “critical situation” at Šiauliai International Airport, proposing its integration into Lithuania’s state-run airport network, LRT reports.

The municipality has urged the government to designate Šiauliai as the country’s fourth international airport, arguing this would optimise national aviation infrastructure, boost regional economic potential, and strengthen national security. The airport could specialise in cargo operations and aircraft maintenance (MRO), reducing pressure on Vilnius and Kaunas airports.

Visockas emphasised that unified state management would improve coordination between civil and military aviation—critical given the airport’s location in a military aerodrome—and ensure compliance with NATO standards.

Without intervention, the airport risks losing its international status after March 2027, when the Defence Ministry has said it will not renew the passenger terminal lease. The mayor warned that €300,000 in annual rent from 2028 and unresolved legal uncertainties are already deterring private investment in logistics and aircraft servicing.

The municipality has proposed urgent government discussions to extend the terminal lease, transfer infrastructure to the airport under a trust (not rental) model, and draft an integration plan with input from the Transport and Defence Ministries.

Visockas previously highlighted the airport’s role as a backup during crises, such as the 2023 contraband balloon incidents that disrupted flights in Vilnius. President Gitanas Nausėda has also called for better use of regional airports, though he named Kaunas and Palanga as alternatives.