Airport, EU – Baltic States, Forum, Lithuania, Transport

"Lithuania appreciates increasingly stronger country's economic ties with Kazakhstan. We are partners in the field of transport and logistics; therefore, plans to connect capitals by direct flight receive our full support. It would strengthen the bilateral economic cooperation, expand the geography of air carriers' flights from Vilnius," said Rimantas Sinkevicius, Minister of Transport and Communications of Lithuania.

In 2014, Kazakh-Lithuanian Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation discussed the possibility of Kazakh airlines conducting direct flights to Vilnius. In recent years within the frameworks of his visits to Kazakhstan, Minister Sinkevicius has also repeatedly expressed his support for direct flights. In addition, the possibility of direct flights was discussed with the management of the Ministry of Investment and Development of Kazakhstan as well as of leading bodies at Kazakhstan airlines.

According to Minister Sinkevicius, the mayor of Astana also encourages the introduction of direct flights; therefore, it is very likely that Kazakhstan airlines will find a way to connect the two capitals.

According to Adilbek Dzhaksybekov, Mayor of Astana, direct flight between Astana and Vilnius could be started in 2017 at the latest, when world exhibition EXPO 2017 will be held in Astana. It is expected that by the start of the exhibition around 40 new air routes will be offered in the capital of Kazakhstan. In order to provide flights to Vilnius, the air carriers of Kazakhstan will have to meet the European Commission's directive on Air Safety Assessment, which is expected to be announced in spring 2016.