Finnair has pulled its late-evening Helsinki–Vilnius rotation, a
move Lithuanian Airports (LTOU) says is linked to contraband
balloons drifting in from Belarus and the resulting airspace
closures.
As reported by bne IntelliNews, since October,
airspace restrictions have been imposed over Vilnius Airport on
more than ten occasions due to Belarusian balloons carrying illegal
cigarettes, with a single similar incident recorded over Kaunas.
Earlier this year, Lithuania temporarily closed its border with
Belarus following repeated incursions of the unmanned devices.
The disruptions hit almost 320 flights and more than 45,000
passengers – roughly 5% of all travellers moving through Vilnius
Airport during that period, according to LTOU.
LTOU spokesperson Tadas Vasiliauskas told national broadcaster
LRT.lt that the carrier flagged the change on
December 3.
“Finnair informed airport services yesterday that due to
operational challenges and temporary airspace restrictions at
certain times – caused by Belarus hybrid attack – it is cancelling
one evening flight, one of the four daily services currently
operated between Vilnius and Helsinki,” Vasiliauskas said,
LRT.lt reported on December 4.
The adjustment follows similar timetable shifts by airBaltic,
which has been forced to rework two services as Vilnius Airport
continues to halt operations in response to the balloon incursions.
Krakow–Vilnius flights, which previously landed just after
midnight, will now touch down at 5.40 pm, while the Saturday
Munich–Vilnius service has been moved forward from 10.15 pm to 6.55
pm.
Lithuania blames Belarus for a hybrid campaign aimed at
undermining civil aviation, LRT.lt said.
© 2025 bne IntelliNews, source Magazine