The Vilnius Airport building is listed in the Register of Cultural Properties and is subject to corresponding legal protection. Public discussions about demolishing the building and constructing a new one have been ongoing. The National Commission for Cultural Heritage of the Republic of Lithuania emphasizes that properties listed in the Register of Cultural Properties cannot be considered for demolition. The building must be preserved like any other cultural property on this list.

“Yes, the legacy of the Soviet era can be considered as inconvenient heritage. However, the discussion should not focus on the period when the object was created. The evaluation should be based on whether the architecture is good and whether other elements are valuable. That is the essence. Today, the Vilnius Airport is recognized as an object possessing those heritage values,” says the National Commission for Cultural Heritage.
When considering the future expansion of Vilnius Airport, it is important to remember that the flight path is above the historic center of Vilnius, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Heritage Commission supports the proposal for a new international airport between Vilnius and Kaunas, as outlined in the new Comprehensive Plan of the Territory of the Republic of Lithuania.

Heritage Commission is an expert and advisor to the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania, President of the Republic of Lithuania and to Government of the Republic of Lithuania regarding the national policy of cultural heritage protection, its implementation, evaluation and improvement.