flydubai, the state-owned low-fare carrier, has started direct flights between Dubai International (DXB) and Vilnius International Airport (VNO), establishing the first nonstop link between the UAE and Lithuania by a UAE-based airline.
The new service operates three times per week from Terminal 3 at DXB and is integrated into the existing flydubai and Emirates codeshare partnership.
Jeyhun Efendi, Divisional Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations and E-commerce at flydubai, said the move was part of the airline’s “commitment to expanding direct connectivity to underserved markets”.
“These new flights are projected to stimulate tourism and trade flows, providing more direct and convenient travel options for both markets,” he said.
The new route is expected to contribute to economic cooperation and enhance Lithuania’s global accessibility, with Juras Taminskas, Minister of Transport and Communications, predicting that approximately 40,000 passengers will use the route in the first year of operation.
“A direct connection with one of the most important hubs in the Middle East not only increases Lithuania’s accessibility and expands connecting-flight opportunities, but also opens entirely new travel destinations for all of us, as well as for business and the tourism sector, “ he said.
Simonas Bartkus, CEO of Lithuanian Airports, also highlighted the commercial benefit and welcomed the airline’s commitment to the region.
“We acknowledge flydubai‘s readiness to invest in the development of inbound tourism in the Baltic States, which is a factor in ensuring route sustainability throughout the year,” he said.
flydubai recently ordered 150 Airbus A321neo aircraft.
