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Airspace shutdown in Vilnius: How to plan your trip and what to do if your flight gets redirected
Vilnius Airport was temporarily shut down on May 20th. Learn what it may mean to your travel plans and what happens if your flight gets redirected.
On the morning of May 20, Lithuania temporarily shut down the Vilnius Airport, as well as the surrounding airspace and even train traffic in the surrounding regions. The shutdown lasted for about an hour, and the airport has since resumed normal operations.
That said, for travelers with flights or layovers in Vilnius, one question remains: What happens if the airspace shuts down during your flight, and should you alter your plans because of this?
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Why was the Vilnius Airport shut down?
Lithuania issued an air danger warning around 10 AM on May 20, 2026, which also meant an airspace closure around its capital city. Flights heading to Vilnius were redirected to nearby airports. The air danger warning was a result of an airspace violation when a drone from neighboring Belarus crossed the Lithuanian border.
Similar incursions happened in other Baltic countries as well. Latvia issued a possible airspace violation warning at around the same time as Lithuania, while NATO fighter jets shot down a drone in Estonia the day before, on May 19.
That said, warnings in Estonia and Latvia haven’t yet resulted in airport closures, with Riga and Tallinn airports situated much further from the Russian and Belarusian borders compared to Vilnius.
What happens if your flight gets redirected?
A redirected flight doesn’t mean you won’t reach your destination. During airport shutdowns, flights to Vilnius get redirected to the nearest airports — Kaunas or Riga. From there, the airline arranges a bus transfer to the Vilnius Airport. As a result, you’ll still arrive in Vilnius, only a few hours later than planned.
You will likely need to pick up your luggage at the airport of arrival before boarding the transfer bus to Vilnius.
If you miss a connecting flight from Vilnius because of the delay, contact your airline, and they’ll rebook you to the next available flight. If no flights are available on the same day, the airline is required to provide you with accommodation.
Keep in mind that redirections typically only happen to flights that have already taken off by the time the airport closes. If the airport closes before you leave, the flight is delayed until it restarts operations. The closure on May 20 only lasted about an hour, though some closures due to illegal weather balloons have lasted longer.
Should you avoid booking flights through or to the Baltics?
So far, Vilnius Airport is the only one in the Baltics to have experienced shutdowns in the Baltics. Other major airports in the region, such as Riga, Tallinn, and Kaunas airport have maintained normal operations.
If you’re considering buying a flight with a layover in Vilnius, you may want to consider other options just in case another shutdown happens. If you already have a ticket with a layover in Vilnius, keep in mind that shutdowns have been short and infrequent, and even if you do get unlucky, you’ll still reach your destination, albeit slightly later.
For a visit to Lithuania, you can look for flights to Kaunas instead. The Kaunas airport hasn’t been affected by shutdowns, and the city is only a 1-hour train ride away from Vilnius.
Is it safe to visit the Baltics?
Visiting the Baltics is completely safe, and civilian life remains unaffected. Not only that, but Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia all have very low rates of violent crime, and even petty theft isn’t as common as it is in some other tourist destinations in Europe.
On top of that, it’s just about the best time to visit — we’re headed into the summer, the weather is pleasant, the nature is at its nicest, and there’s no shortage of things to see and do.
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A senior SEO writer from Lithuania, combining my passion for writing and travel at Holafly. With years of experience in technical fields, I'm here to answer all of your questions about staying connected. I specialize in turning even the most complicated topics into something everyone can understand.
