Why Doesn't Lithuania Have Its Own Airline?

[@petkus12]

In the Baltics Estonians dominate see traffic, Latvians air traffic and Lithuanians ground traffic.

[@Zulikas69]

Sorry to do this, but *sea, not see. Don't know how true your statement is, but my gut feeling is agreeing with it.

[@markust7709]

Lithuanjans are strong in sea sector with the only ice-free port in Baltic States. Which is the largest port by container tonnage (almost 60 million tonnes at its peak in 2019). Now it has dropped but it dropped everywhere, in Estonia too and I don't know the numbers. Also DFDS' Lithuanian branch has the largest cargo ferries operating in entire Baltic sea (including Sweden, Denmark, Finland) - 6 ferries in total, 2 of them brand new (2022) huge ones Aura and Luna. Also, Klaipeda has the longest port area with over 10 km long. There is no other port in Baltics with over 10 km of piers. So please let not say that Estonians dominate. They dominate passenger sea traffic, not general traffic. Estonia 2.5 times smaller than Lithuania, it needs less cargo, additionally Estonia is not foreign transit destination, Lithuania is.

[@frameshade]

​@@markust7709calm down, lets not make it a duck measuring contest now

[@zhenja.2227]

yall like avatar bro you got the air nation and water nation

[@markust7709]

@@zhenja.2227🤣🤣🤣

[@hmrdev-billnye8166]

When i think about Baltic Airlines, i think about AirBaltic It represents all 3 countries basically

[@lembitmoislane.]

It’s not, it’s an Latvian monopoly that just insults it’s other countries by painting the flags of the countries who’s own national airlines it has destroyed.

[@kevinsview93]

This is exactly my thoughts! I automatically think of the Baltic states. Not just Latvia.

[@joezegers]

Yes, but it's based in Latvia.

[@airhabairhab]

Baltic Branded Latvian airline not a joint venture like SAS in Scandinavia.

[@travelvideos]

Baltic airlines are mostly used by talent who works in Europe. For some Lithuanians in Šiauliai or Panevėžys, it might be more convenient to fly from Riga than from Vilnius

[@mratp123]

As sad as it is... Estonia has the same case here. We don't have a proper flag carrier, although we used to ( Estonian Air). Latvians do it for us both:) and if you want to argue anything about Nordica... just don't, it's bankrupt.

[@Tris_z]

"Uh sO aCtualLy" 🤓🤓

[@gamingreversalpm4727]

It's very well alive, it just offers charter flights.

[@lembitmoislane.]

The causes behind both my country (Estonia) and Lithuania not having our own national airlines is due to the following: 1) The lack of a “Riga”. Until very recently, Riga was without a doubt the largest city for all three countries and has managed the largest airport of the three, so they have the infrastructure and local(I say local and not national because Lithuania has more people) demand for an larger airline. 2) The ability for National Airlines to make very stupid moves. Here in Estonia Nordica was doing fine, was growing, and I think in some areas out did Air Estonia before they decided to complete abandon doing normal flights and just do contract flights, completely destroying the purpose of it’s creation and cutting itself off from having an established position for the Estonian air market. 3) Air Baltic is an damn monopoly and should be treated as one. As mentioned in this video, they conduct practices designed to destroy other airlines in the region and take over. Also due their status (and another factor I’ll get into), the Latvian government is more willing to support then than ours or Lithuania’s to support it. 4) Lack of protectionism: Latvia is the most willing of the Baltic countries to protect it’s own industries and hence will back, support, and develop local industries. Hence why they are the only country with a population under two million that builds it’s own planes, armoured personal carriers, naval boats (yes we now our own, but the number here is smaller, more recent, and they are smaller and not as capable as theirs), trams, etc. Our own governments need to realise that it is an necessity if you don’t want foreign monopolies and economic client state status, then you need to enact some measures of protection. 5) The lack of a will to maintain our own airlines: After the first national airlines failed, our own national government and Lithuania as a society and government does not have a strong will to maintain and fund national airlines as Latvia does. For us and Lithuania, it’s like “Meh who cares” while for them it’s a form of national pride.

[@autumn_rain]

As a latvian I agree, but also Baltic is too small for 3 competing airlines and Riga is kinda in the middle. Maybe we should just join our countries into United Baltic States and work together against bigger threats ffs :D

[@manometras]

@@autumn_rain, the USB, we would say B.

[@phuttyyt]

@@autumn_rain We already do - it's called the EU and NATO :P

[@aivarsrokjanis321]

Šeit korekti būtu ielūkoties Air Baltic dibināšanas sākuma posmā. Es domāju, ka nemaldos faktā, ka Latvijā dibinot jauno kompāniju pēc LATAVIA bankrota deviņdesmitajos gados, abām kaimiņvalstīm tika piedāvāts apvienoties šajā sakarā ar mums un dibināt vienotu kompāniju. Šis priekšlikums neguva atbalstu ne Lietuvā, ne Igaunijā. Ja katrs par sevi , tad par sevi. Bizness nav pastaiga pa smaržojošu rožu dārzu. Kas attiecas par FlyLAL likteni, tad pašu lietuviešu ziņā kāpēc tas notika. Jau tradicionālā shēma- pa priekšu dempingojam (atceros cik maksāja biļete no Rīgas uz Viļņu), tad visu sagrābjam un tad svinam uzvaru, šoreiz neizgāja cauri. Un tā brēka iesaistoties tiesvedībās ar lidostu Rīga un pēc tam arī ar AirBaltic, vainojot citus savas ''tradicionālās ekonomiskās politikas'' neizdošanās dēļ, bija arī pamācoša mums. Nu neizdevās mums atņemt lidmašīnas, uzlikt sodu Rīgas lidostai vairāku miljonu euro vērtībā, neizdevās. Cik kvalitatīvs bija FlyLAL pakalpojums saprata arī mana ģimene. Reisu kavēšanās vairāku desmitu stundu garumā, lidaparātu tehniskais stāvoklis salonā (piedzīvojums ceļojot uz Ēģipti) ir iespiedies atmiņā. Tā kā...... Bet nu tā ir pagātne un ceru, ka uz neatgriešanos.... . Mans ieteikums ir- nevis apskaust melnās krāsās, bet sadarboties, līdzdarboties, attīstīties. Šeit vēl ir daudz darāmā visās trīs Baltijas valstīs. Piemēram: ja Air Baltic lidojums notiek no Tallinas vai Viļņas , vai stjuarti runā tās valsts valodā no kurienes tiek veikts reiss? Ja jau Air Baltic, tad Baltic valodām ir jācirkulē pilnā apmērā un ne tikai Latvijā! Vai ne tā? Here, it would be correct to take a look at the initial stage of the establishment of Air Baltic. I think I am not mistaken in the fact that when the new company was founded in Latvia after the bankruptcy of LATAVIA in the nineties, both neighboring countries were offered to unite with us in this regard and establish a single company. This proposal did not gain support in either Lithuania or Estonia. If each for himself, then for himself. Business is not a walk in a garden of fragrant roses. As for the fate of FlyLAL, it is up to the Lithuanians themselves why it happened. Already the traditional scheme - we dump in advance (I remember how much the ticket from Riga to Vilnius cost), then we seize everything and then celebrate the victory, this time it did not go through. And his yelling while involved in legal proceedings with Riga airport and then also with AirBaltic, blaming others for the failure of his "traditional economic policy", was also instructive for us. Well, we failed to take away the planes, to impose a penalty on Riga airport worth several million euros, we failed. My family also understood how high-quality FlyLAL's service was. Flight delays lasting several tens of hours, the technical condition of the aircraft in the cabin (the experience of traveling to Egypt) are etched in my memory. Since...... But that is the past and I hope that there will be no return... . My suggestion is not to envy black colors, but to cooperate, cooperate, develop. There is still a lot to do here in all three Baltic states. For example: if an Air Baltic flight departs from Tallinn or Vilnius, do the flight attendants speak the language of the country from which the flight is made? If it's Air Baltic, then Baltic languages must circulate in full and not only in Latvia! Isn't that right?

[@2712animefreak]

Since when do they build their own trams? From what I know, Riga last bought Czech trams, Daugavpils last bought Belarusian trams and Liepaja last bought Croatian trams. There was a tram factory in Riga during Soviet times (RVR), but I don't think that's functional anymore.

[@Xenu321]

Great high quality content! I wonder why you don't have more subscribers.

[@DanaStar-le2rm]

Because it's all Lithuania focused. We are a small country, not that big of an audience.

[@lukasramas5152]

There was a very short time when we had “Air Lituanica” as a last national carrier.

[@vulc1]

Finally someone mentioned Air Lituanica! I took a flight from Tallinn to Vienna on Air Lituanica with a change of flights in Vilnius. I say 'flights' even though I got off and on the same aircraft with the same crew welcoming me again :D

[@angryakita3870]

It was pretty good, until the next mayor got elected and the project was cancelled

[@ZhylvisLT]

It's more than enough having one decent flight carrier in the entire Baltic region. Let's add the fact, that our neighbors have their own airlines, for Lithuania is Poland's LOT, for Estonia is Finland's FINNAIR. Plus there are discounters like Ryanair and Wizzair. So adding two more airlines in Lithuania and Estonia would be economically not feasible.

[@ZhylvisLT]

@@Sinivaal that’s the reason why it is dying. Those prices are being subsidised by country, so cheap ticket means less money in country’s budget. I don’t know if Ryanair and Wizzair operates in Estonia, but those two carriers gives the most affordable flights.

[@fatweeb1545]

After they build Rail Baltica it'll be possible to travel from Vilnius to Riga Airport by train in under two hours. So Riga Airport might be able to serve direct routes to farther destinations for the entire Baltic region.

[@ZhylvisLT]

@@fatweeb1545 with Rail Baltica completion for Lithuanians Warsaw (2.5 hours by train) and Riga (less than 2 hours by train) will be two options for long direct flights.

[@barvdw]

while not a necessity for an airport to florish, having a national flag carrier can help bring in a lot of direct flight routes. Would say United Airlines be interested in a direct flight to Vilnius? I doubt it, the market is too marginal for that. AirBaltic has made Riga their hub, and whether you like it or not, having a hub helps enormously to attract foreign investment. The Netherlands wouldn't be as thriving without Schiphol, and Schiphol wouldn't nearly be as big without KLM. Budapest is doing well enough without their national flag carrier, but Wizz Air has replaced Malev as de facto flag carrier, and Budapest is big enough to attract foreign carriers. Other smaller countries would have a harder time.

[@smert_bobram]

"cheap ticket means less money in country’s budget" @@ZhylvisLT directly from this sentence I can tell, that you don't understand economics and tax politics well ;)

[@nuucha]

I think this video misses the 2 year experiment of AirLituanica back in early 2010s

[@PijusONLINE]

Interestingly, FlyLAL isn't dead. In a way, it developed/restructured into the Avia Solutions Group (through Gediminas Žiemelis), but it does most of its private charters business abroad and only its repair hangars (called FL Technics - another interesting artefact) and offices are here. There was also the short-lived Air Lituanica (2013-2015), but this was a service belonging to Vilnius municipality at a time when it was also operating a municipal taxi fleet with both being massively loss-making in the difficult post-financial crisis period, so both were axed by the new mayor in 2015.

[@andy-ally]

I remember when "Flylal Technics" was renamed to "FL Technics" because of this acquisition and PR managers during promotion of company's maintenance job positions to future engineers in Vilnius Tech University were getting pissed every time some student called their company "FlyLAL Technics". Don't know why, but it felt like they are trying to cut all ties to old days.

[@Zyxelonn]

Idk if its the new microphone or myself but for some reason it sounds slighty AI-ish. Maybe the microphone needs some tweaking, there is a super slight robotic sound at the end of speaking

[@RichieLarpa]

Well, let's not expect that every country in Europe will be identical. Weirdly enough, those very things are making some countries unique and also admirable to visit, if every country would be almost identical, travelling in general would lose its charm. Lithuania does not have trams, but it has a language with unique features, fascinating many linguists to this day, myself included. Czech Republic does not have its capital full of skyscrapers, but has a lot of beautiful castles. Slovenia does not have a huge sea, but is a country that is a home to an only living variation of a dragon. And the list goes on and on.

[@oskrr21]

What about Avia Solutions Group, could they have anything to do with the start of a Lithuanian airline?

[@av621]

I always thought AirBaltic was good for the Baltics in general...

[@pasha_che]

I even flew Lithuanian airline Saab 2000 twice, very nice plane it was!

[@kevinsview93]

I primarily fly Lufthansa when I travel from U.S. to Vilnius, but during Winter months due to cheaper ticket costs, I've taken Delta and my connecting flight is Air Baltic. I agree with you that unfortunately, Lithuania is too small, and the market is competitive. Therefore, not profitable. I think it's better to invest to funds into the Airport itself rather than a national Airline. The airport is very unique, and my personal favorite I've visited during my travels.

[@PijusONLINE]

How do you explain Air Baltic being Latvian if it's about the size? Lithuania is the biggest one.

[@kevinsview93]

@@PijusONLINE they're both small countries. But obviously Latvia has more resources going for it.

[@PijusONLINE]

@@kevinsview93 It literally doesn't, neither per capita nor in total terms.

[@kevinsview93]

@@PijusONLINE this was just my thoughts. I'm not an expert on Baltic airlines. The author of the video would probably love to hear your data and investigative research regarding the topic.

[@PijusONLINE]

@@kevinsview93 How does it feel to have to self-censor for fear of getting arrested by some moustachioed literally 1984 cretin whenever you're visiting your wife's old folks? Perhaps we'll go ahead and finally seal the border to hopefully improve your travel experience.

[@copy2886]

For Lt government would be easy to subsidize the Airlines (since it is small), But it was said that EU does not allow this as it is not fair competition...

[@manekinskajloker7589]

in 0:46 I see the plane I flew as Crew for LOT Polish airlines (with Eurolot Livery). The one and only, the legend - Bombardier Dash8/Q400

[@joezegers]

An example of a country with multiple flag carriers is the United States, which has three "unofficial" flag carriers: American, Delta, and United.

[@markust7709]

It is very strange how Air Baltic managed to push Fly LAL out of the market by lowering prices. If they were "unfairly low" how AirBaltic didnt go out of business themseves? Very strange, if not to tell more...

[@melluzi]

AirBaltic aka BT did a great job unifying its fleet to at that time Bombardier which is now known as Airbus A220-300. Good fuel economy and way less technical issues than for Boeings that had forced to ground almost entire fleet and caused huge losses for Norwegian for instance.

[@jajaja922]

Its our taxpayers money, lol. This Airbaltic is expensive, but we are proud, we managed creating great airline, and keep growing our fleet, and reputation. And now we are openng routes to USA, latest is 2025. Be proud of our tax money :P

[@fatweeb1545]

Because Air Baltic was a better run company. No surprise the lawsuit against them failed in the end. Just free market competition at work.

[@jajaja922]

@@fatweeb1545 Not only AirBaltic was better run company, they had clear vision, what they wanted from it. And they did, seriously foreigners prefer AirBaltic, then BritishAirways, or Lufthansa. There is reason its called airBALTIC, and have planes on all 3 flags. I hope it goes Riga stock market, at some point, because its 100% goverment owned.

[@olegdc10]

Heston airlines based in Lithuania operate 3 Airbus 330 and 3 A320. Usually they fly on behalf of European carriers and never serve routes to and from Vilnius. Air Baltic is very strong in region and they don’t have competitors in Riga and Vilnius.

[@DanielDeSaintMalo]

For people who find wired countries that do not have not even a De Facto Flag Carrier, in Central America their are countries that have got years without having a De Facto Flag Carrier.

[@skylineXpert]

I remember a story when scanway tyrkieteksperten used aurelia for long flights. The passengers didnt really like the 757-200. felt like an iron pole was going through the seat backs.

[@PurpleSixBeats]

Without watching. Small country, small population, more profitable to use existing services.

[@dainius82]

Lithuania had few attempts at having a flag-carrier airlines, mess it up royally, whatever the reason maybe, glad there’s a rather good choice of options to get away.

[@Cattdk]

Airbaltic is a airline for three countries such as Lithuania Latvia and Estonia Then Getjet airlines is kinda like a English airline but it’s probably less Lithuanian

[@Planebro]

As a Lithuanian, I'm sad we don't have a national airline.

[@Jestersage]

Go and ask someone who is from Canada how's Air Canada and "Canadian Airlines". Oops, forgot the latter was shut down when Air Canada got kickbacks from Canadian government and bought their competitor out. Now any disabled Canadian can crawl their way out of the planes. In addition, I will agree with the numerous Urban/Environmental channels that a good railway system is better than airline if you want to focus on continental travel. Obviously in terms of international that's a different story.

[@aas11476ng]

Зато у вас очень красиво и вкусно)) Да и живете хорошо, Литву будто бы не затронул кризис

[@plina330]

Transaviabaltika airlines:)

[@mariuskumpys6780]

I am Lithuanian also and I am not sad. If we live in free market why the state should fund long time ago bankrupted and unprofitable business?

[@matrixberzins465]

AirBaltic few days ago enounced that they made order for 30x more ''Airbus A220-300'' so they will have fleet of 100 planes in near future.

[@sealgrouplithuania]

Latvians are always fast and smart. :) good job

[@4evertrue830]

To make airline services successful in the baltics, It all boils down to understanding the economics of air travel as it relates to that region. It is feasible for all three baltic nations, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania to come together and each have one national airline, to be managed under a holding company. Equity shareholding will be shared to all three countries, each allocated a third of and for a certain number of same type-rated aircrafts, maybe 2, 3 or 4 but certainly not a large number. It will be flown and managed by a holding company under a joint name on their behalf. Each country's airport will be a base for that country's allocated aircrafts and from where a sub-divisional management staff of that holding company will be based. Flying into each other's airports will be allowed but under mutually agreed air traffic slots and airport service fees (or taxes) made by all 3 countries avaition authorities to the holding company. This ensures financial equity all through which will also help to calculate air fares. Air fares will be equally charged to all passengers no matter which country they fly from. 😅😊

[@karoluxas1141]

Correct me if im wrong, but i think there WAS also airLithuanica, that either started, or went bankrupt in 2014 idk any history behind it

[@LithuaniaExplained]

You’re right. I forgot it 😩🙈

[@saalvosegg8171]

I think Air Baltic should follow in the steps of SAS and become the flag carrier of Latvia Lithuania and Estonia. It would be reasonable and efficient.

[@stanislavkostarnov2157]

Air-Baltic as a SAS style airline makes a lot of sense... as for Lithuania, I think the prevalence of Charter airlines really shows the kind of flying that dominates the market here... holidays to relatively cheap resorts somewhere in the Mediterranean *(plus black sea if you include Turkey) ... for the young, active, success and foreign opportunity seeking population, (we are talking about a country with a relatively large student population) large, efficient, budget airlines such as Wiz-air really fulfill the need... to say it is too small of a country to support an airline of it's own is incorrect (places like the Scottish isle or the Faroes prove that)... but it does not have the Old-Wealth of a secure ancient middle-class to require a flag-carrying full-service style operator, rather, needing something that is good money value in a very busy lifestyle

[@phuttyyt]

Yeah, I was going to say that if Norway, Sweden and Denmark can get by with one joint airline between them (although Norway at least does operate others), then the Baltic States certainly can. I think the 'problem' is that airBaltic, while serving Estonia and Lithuania as well, is still 100% Latvian AFAIK, so it doesn't feel like it's truly a pan-Baltic airline.

[@MerkysGud-xp5js]

When i grow up i will make lithaunia airlines

[@thinkandgame3627]

It almost feels comical that Tunisia, a country one more sneeze or cough away from bankruptcy has an airline, while Lithuania, a nice an prosperous nation doesn't really.

[@ernestasluza1787]

We are just to small on our own. It's enough that Latvians are representing us all. I am often using Riga airport by myself instead of Vilnius because I live in Žemaitija it's more convient for me use Rigas airport.

[@7wanderer7]

Airlines bussineses go bankrupt almost yearly due to fuel costs and various crises. The state's economic stabilisation fund, which saved Lufthansa from bankruptcy during the pandemic with a bailout package totalling 9 billion euros, had progressively reduced its stake in recent years with the aim of offloading it completely by October of 2023. Reuters

[@copy2886]

is it allowed by the EU to intervene? is it a fair competition?

[@ax.f-1256]

Lufthansa received money directly and the government also bought shares when Lufthansa increased their equity. Lufthansa paid back the money in 2021. And the German government also sold their shares in Lufthansa in 2022. All with a huge profit for the government. And even if we would have not helped them, Lufthansa would have had enough buildings, airplanes, Property and to pay their death if it would ever become serious. That could literally sell some of their possessions that are worth several Trillion Euros. But that would cost tens of thousands of german jobs and dozends of buildings and propery of Lufthansa would suddenly end up in the hands of foreign (not necessarily Western) countries. And we absolutely don't want that. And btw it doesn't matter what Brussels says, we Germans will never let Lufthansa go bankrupt. Not gonna happen, like ever. Especially not if saving the company benefits the economy and the taxpayers wallet. The German taxpayer *gained* 482 Million Euros with the bailout... At least we won't let Lufthansa go bankrupt as long as Italy is constantly throwing billions of euros into their Black hole called "Alitalia" (or renamed ITA at the moment) Alitalia was and is constantly bankrupt and needs constant money from the taxpayer. The 1st Alitalia went bankrupt The 2nd Alitalia also went bankrupt after constantly needing money. And the 3rd Alitalia is this time called Ita. (But bought the Alitalia logo and name, in case the might rebrand themselves again as Alitalia again) So if the Italians can do that, we can do that as well. 😁 But we get money when we do it 😂😂

[@makarovblog7261]

5:05 these websites look like default tepmlates from website builder lol

[@Riley_Angeldog]

OMG I ONCE FLEW SMALL PLANET AIRLINES! once, from Düsseldorf, Germany, to Hurghada, Egypt. omggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg I FEEL INVOLVED NOW!

[@simonsv9449]

Air Baltic is the airline for all of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

[@LaloSalamanca13]

Estonian national airline is about to bankrupt second time in a row right now. For some reason the politicians thought that it is a must be to have a national carrier and normal market does not play out. That turned out to be wrong (again) and the taxpayers are again the ones that must pay for the mistakes of the politicians. And nobody is responsible (again).

[@AtomicLobotomy]

This is certainly one of the most urgent questions facing the world today. I think about this every night. (no just kidding). But anyways, Lithuania is barely a country. It does not have resources to create and maintain an airline. Many small countries (and not so small countries) that have tried to have their own national airlines ultimately failed. Cyprus, Greece, Switzerland, Netherlands, even Japan all had national airlines that went bankrupt. Most larger airlines, in US and elsewhere, are one economic recession or slowdown away from bankruptcy. The skies are ruled by discount airlines, and they barely make a profit. Just not worth it.

[@mrlover4310]

I've been to Lithuania several times have Lithuanian friends my child is half Lithuanian the country is too poor the government is too corrupt it's best like you said they don't have one resources will be pulled to keep the airline going.

[@MakeFilmsStudio]

From which rich country are you from?

[@نادرالیراحمان]

If I'm not wrong, AirBaltic flies to Abu Dhabi, not Dubai.

[@krebssfish9370]

Both actually

[@neilburns8869]

Doesn't Air Baltic based in neighbouring Latvia (the biggest and most high profile of the 3 Baltic states) cover flights from Talin and Vilnius as well as Riga itself?

[@phuttyyt]

Yes, it does. In Estonia it has the highest market share of any carrier operating out of Tallinn Airport.

[@EA00000]

It hard for Lithuania to have profitable own Arline ! Lithuania is small country with very small population Already Lot offers today direct connection to London from Vilnius and connection with lot is better option for Lithuania Of course Poland is large country with near 40 million population so have big long distance network ! And Warsaw is very close to Vilnius only 40 min flight ! You can also access by bus and rail connection coming soon ! Riga is ok but only for Europe destination !

[@n2e913]

Latvia is smaller but they have their own airline

[@partizanas.]

What about getjet?

[@LithuaniaExplained]

Watch the full video. I mentioned it.

[@mrxyz8366]

I wonder how lithuania have money to spend on ukraine rather than to invest in their own aviation sector. This will definitely led to the downfall of aviation in the country and to the dominance of air Baltic.

[@zazaza903]

Bosnia and Herzegovina has joined the chat

[@ladlem3]

Lack of resources, in short. Small countries, not a lot of money. Hence the Air Baltic

[@markust7709]

But Latvia is even smaller than Lithuania...

[@diodytv]

YES BECAUSE IM LITHUANIAN

[@kryztofkowalski4628]

Probably a good thing!

[@DanielMirk]

Because its expensive...

[@da480]

Lol coming up with these complicated explanations while it’s much easier. When was the last time you checked Lithuanian population dynamics? Since the late 90’s it has dropped from ~3.5m to ~2m. Can any business, especially airline, survive it?! No way! On top, there are much more established competitors in close proximity - AirBaltic, Finnair, LOT… even AirBaltic and Finnair have been somewhat struggling since Russia’s market (relevant for BT) and Russia’s space (relevant for AY) have been closed as these airlines’ business models were heavily relying on it. On top, neither country are a popular tourist destination, unlike mentioned Middle Eastern airlines. The sad thing is that the population continues to decrease at a rate above 1% a year, so a lack of national airlines is the least of this country’s worries

[@new-lviv]

Thank you to Lithuania for the support of Ukraine. Hopefully, there will be national airlines in Lithuania in future - low cost or not.

[@cilldublin07]

enough airlines flying in and out of lithuania to all over europe.

[@scientifically5812]

They will soon have Aeroflot :) :) :)

[@deceneudeceneu8908]

Ask wizz air

[@oldowleye3161]

invest in industry - aviation is too dificult as a business - you nedd to invoice many million to gain a few cents !...

[@bush_wookie_9606]

Ironically I was just checking to see if i could fly into vilnius yet from the UK.

[@DanaStar-le2rm]

Yes you can. Ryanair from London Luton or Stanstead.

[@PijusONLINE]

Has that ever been a problem?

[@DanaStar-le2rm]

@@PijusONLINE it became more of a problem lately One year ago there been plenty of direct flights from UK Liverpool, Leeds, Sheffield Doncaster Wizz Air have had their cheap weekly direct flights to Lithuania as well. Now it's all gone. Only Ryanair from London airports.

[@PijusONLINE]

@@DanaStar-le2rm Thanks, I didn't realise. There's LOT flights from London City, but those prices are reminiscent of the early to mid 2000s.

[@adrianssvalkovskis8566]

British airways just opened flights to Riga as well, hopefully making it cheaper

[@cteators10]

I am Indian

[@rv1251]

What airlines just have a look at this disatser airport in Vilnius 😂😂😂

[@AllineedisKIMI]

No, no Airbaltic isn't dealing with engine problems. They are busy operating for other carriers than their own. Just imagine the peanuts they paid to the charter airliners who operate for them.

[@LithuaniaExplained]

I can send you several articles which include interviews from their CEO that discuss their Pratt and Whitney geared turbofan issues. Please do some simple research before commenting with misinformation.

[@P13N5]

Greed and corruption.

[@IvanVoid]

because Lithuania sold its sovereignity long time ago to uncle Sam and Brusseles ahahaha

[@lvovodessa]

Another sad story from the Baltics. It seems that everyone is leaving or has already left.

[@MakeFilmsStudio]

Year by year country become more developed an better !

[@NostalgicMem0ries]

because we suck and ryanair owns cheap tickets, and we love cheap stuff

[@wishSwish]

👍👍