Vilnius Airport unveils VNO Plaza as old Departures terminal becomes the airport’s largest commercial space

Lithuanian Airports (LTOU) have announced that on 16 June, Vilnius Airport has unveiled its new main commercial space which has been given the name VNO Plaza. The renovated area of the former departures terminal is a significant stage in the modernization of infrastructure of Vilnius Airport – it will allow to manage passenger flows more efficiently, improve the travel experience, ensure smoother operations of the airport as the number of passengers grows, and maintain the airport’s competitiveness through growing commercial revenues. Various retail and catering operators will operate in the transformed space, including the largest Duty-Free store in the Baltics.

“At Vilnius Airport, we are completing another stage of infrastructure transformation and opening a new centre of attraction for passengers – VNO Plaza. The venue, which served as the flight check-in hall for decades, is now becoming the airport’s largest commercial space. I believe that modern interiors, natural light, new brands and a significantly expanded offering will meet the needs of customers and contribute to a great travel experience. The space will allow the airport to manage passenger flows more efficiently, and additional commercial revenues will allow it to remain competitive in attracting new flights,” says Simonas Bartkus, CEO of Lithuanian Airports.

“As Vilnius grows rapidly, our airport – one of the city’s most important gateways – is also modernizing. It is great to see that new, bright and comfortable spaces are opening up for passengers. A modern airport and an extensive network of direct flights are inseparable from increasing the city’s competitiveness. Therefore, Vilnius City Municipality has been implementing the direct flights promotion programme for several years, which helps to establish new connectivity opportunities and strengthens the city’s ties with the most important economic, innovation and business centres,” says Vilnius City Mayor, Valdas Benkunskas.

Fundamentally reconstructed infrastructure – a guarantee of the airport’s competitiveness

During the year-long reconstruction of the first stage, not only the spaces visible to passengers, but also the “invisible” infrastructure was completely renovated: water supply, electrical installation, ventilation, heating solutions, security and sound systems. The roof of the terminal has been renovated – more daylight enters the spaces, the terminal looks brighter and visually closer to the new departure terminal.

The interior, architecture and finishing materials of the space are designed with the new departure terminal in mind and become a continuation of the integral complex. This is not the final end of the entire reconstruction, but an important intermediate step: further works will move to non-Schengen areas.

The additional commercial income generated by the new space will enable Vilnius Airport to maintain low charges for airlines and thus remain attractive in the highly competitive European aviation market. It is said that the commercial benefits brought by the new space will indirectly contribute to attracting and retaining new airlines and destinations.
VNO Plaza is the main part of the conversion of the old departures terminal, and the value of the entire reconstruction project reaches 15 million euros. It is estimated that the new space should bring about 10 million euros to the airport per year.

The largest Duty-Free store in the Baltics

The largest Duty-Free store of the Heinemann brand in the Baltic States has become the centre of the new VNO Plaza, where passengers will find not only the most popular brands, but also a significantly expanded range of Lithuanian products. The new store is 55 percent larger and occupies as much as 1,300 sq. m. Special attention was paid to Lithuanian products, for which more than 200 sq. m. have been allocated, and where travellers will be able to buy food, beverages, textiles, perfumery and other products from various local producers. In the store, travellers will also find an expanded range of niche perfumery that is becoming increasingly popular.

“Our long-standing partnership with Lithuanian Airports is defined by trust, collaboration, and a shared ambition to put the travelers first. The reopening is a strong next step in our joint journey to further enhance the passenger experience and shape the future of travel retail together.” – says Max Heinemann, Co-CEO of Gebr. Heinemann.

It is said that the new Duty-Free store will welcome travellers with a bright and cozy interior, supplemented with traditional Lithuanian ethnographic elements and ornaments.

New spaces for everyone’s needs

With this stage, more than 3,000 sq. m. of new commercial space in the reconstructed part of the departures terminal will offer passengers a wide range of goods and services. Some of the spaces are already open today, and several more brands, such as the Burger King fast food restaurant and the Aspire Business Lounge, are scheduled to open this summer.

The Narvesen convenience store is dedicated to quick pre-flight purchases, as well as travel readings – from press to books. The jewellery and accessories space Marry me by Ribas invites you to a significant gift or a journey that begins with the mood of the holiday. There will also be a niche perfumery and cosmetics space Creme de la Creme waiting for passengers. Camden Food Co. will be a dining option with a healthier assortment, while Le Grand Comptoir will invite travellers to taste Lithuanian dishes.

“SSP is proud to open Sodai Le Grand Comptoir in the Central Plaza, marking our sixth location at the Vilnius airport and an important milestone for our growing F&B portfolio. Sodai brings the essence of Lithuanian cuisine to travelers through seasonal dishes, local drinks, and a relaxed yet vibrant atmosphere. This opening reinforces our commitment to creating authentic, high-quality dining experiences at the heart of the passenger journey.” – says Elena Heiska, Managing Director at SSP Finland & Baltics.

“The opening of the new Narvesen store at Vilnius Airport marks the end of an important strategic project – we have completed the transformation of all our locations at Lithuanian Airports according to the new concept. This is a significant milestone not only for our organization, but also in the long-term partnership with Lithuanian Airports, which we consider to be one of the most important partners in creating a modern passenger experience. The new store reflects what Narvesen is today – a modern environment, an assortment carefully tailored to the needs of travelers, high-quality responsibly sourced organic coffee, fresh food prepared by us every day, and a comfortable shopping experience at the very first point of travel,” says Saulius Žilėnas, CEO of Reitan Convenience Lithuania.

The final stage: non-Schengen area

The border control of the State Border Guard Service (VSAT) for those travelling to non-Schengen countries is moving to the space of VNO Plaza. The path of passengers travelling to non-Schengen countries at the airport will become clearer and more convenient, and it is to these spaces that further reconstruction works will move. The new border area will be more spacious and cozy, and it should also improve working conditions for border officials. Relevant non-Schengen destinations are the United Kingdom, Turkey, Egypt, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, etc.

In the first five months of this year, Vilnius Airport served more than 2 million passengers, or almost a tenth more than in 2025, and each of these months set a new all-time record. The growing desire to travel, as well as new airlines and new and returning popular routes helped to achieve the records.