A total of 58 flights have been cancelled at Vilnius Airport between February 28 and March 17 due to the conflict in the Middle East, Lithuanian Airports reports.
According to spokesman Martynas Jaugelavicius, the disruptions affected routes operated by airBaltic and flydubai between Vilnius and Dubai, as well as Wizz Air flights between Vilnius and Tel Aviv.
Latvia’s airBaltic, which typically operates three weekly flights between Vilnius and Dubai during the winter season, cancelled 16 flights on the route as the conflict escalated.
“These flights were scheduled to operate until the end of the aviation winter season but were cancelled due to the outbreak of the conflict,” Jaugelavicius said.
The airline has also announced it will suspend all regular flights to and from Dubai until the end of October. However, Lithuanian Airports noted that airBaltic had not planned to operate the Vilnius-Dubai route during the summer aviation season, which runs from March 29 to October 25.
Meanwhile, flydubai, which operates year-round flights between Vilnius and Dubai three times a week, has cancelled 16 flights so far. The airline said flights are running on a reduced schedule and advised passengers not to go to the airport without confirmation that their flight is operating.
Wizz Air, which typically flies between Vilnius and Tel Aviv four to five times per week, has cancelled 26 flights: 13 departures and 13 arrivals. According to the airline’s website, the next scheduled flights on this route are set for May 16.
“We are closely monitoring the situation and responding to official information provided by the airlines regarding these routes,” Jaugelavicius said.
Passengers are advised to follow guidance from the Foreign Ministry and check updates from airlines before traveling.
The disruptions come after hostilities in the region escalated when the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran, which responded with attacks on US military bases in the region. (LRT)