Zaha Hadid Architects to Design New Vilnius Airport Terminal for 2028
Zaha Hadid Architects has secured one of Eastern Europe’s most significant aviation infrastructure projects, winning the contract to design a new arrivals terminal at Vilnius Airport that will reshape the gateway to Lithuania’s capital city.
The 12,500-square-meter terminal, scheduled to open by the end of 2028, represents a major investment in Baltic aviation infrastructure and brings world-class architectural design to the region. Selected through a competitive public tender process managed by Lithuanian Airports (LTOU), the state enterprise operating Vilnius, Kaunas International, and Palanga International airports, ZHA beat out rival firms to claim this prestigious project.
The new facility will go far beyond basic arrival functions. While providing essential services like immigration processing and baggage claim, the terminal will feature significantly expanded retail and hospitality zones designed to enhance the passenger journey. Additional office space for airport operations staff will also be integrated into the design, supporting the facility’s long-term functional requirements.
For the London-based Zaha Hadid Architects, this project continues a remarkable legacy in aviation design. The firm has become virtually synonymous with cutting-edge airport architecture, having delivered striking terminals in Beijing, Mumbai, and Sydney that have fundamentally changed expectations for aviation facilities. ZHA-designed airports are characterized by sweeping curves, dramatic interior volumes, and spatial flows that often blur the line between transportation infrastructure and art installation.
The studio was founded by Dame Zaha Hadid, the Iraqi-British architect who broke gender barriers by becoming the first woman to receive the Pritzker Architecture Prize, often considered the field’s highest honor. Since her unexpected death in 2016, the firm has maintained its reputation for pushing architectural boundaries and delivering projects that challenge conventional design thinking.
For Vilnius and Lithuania more broadly, this terminal represents a strategic investment in regional connectivity and tourism infrastructure. The Lithuanian capital has experienced steady passenger growth in recent years as it works to establish itself as a Baltic aviation hub. The new arrivals terminal will address mounting capacity pressures while creating a memorable first impression for international visitors.
The project’s significance extends beyond passenger experience. Major architectural commissions like this often serve as catalysts for broader urban development and signal a city’s ambitions on the international stage. By engaging a globally recognized architectural practice, Lithuanian Airports is making a statement about the country’s modernization and its commitment to world-class infrastructure.
London law firm Watson Farley & Williams managed the complex contractual negotiations between ZHA and Lithuanian Airports. Partner Barry Hembling, who led the legal advisory team, emphasized that the project “will increase the capacity of Vilnius Airport whilst enhancing the passenger experience when traveling.”
The 2028 timeline gives ZHA approximately four years to complete detailed design development, navigate regulatory approvals, and oversee construction. This schedule aligns with typical timelines for airport terminal projects of this scale, allowing for the complexity inherent in aviation infrastructure.
As European aviation continues its post-pandemic recovery and growth trajectory, projects like the Vilnius terminal highlight ongoing investments in capacity and passenger experience across the continent. The choice of an architect known for distinctive, memorable designs suggests Lithuanian authorities recognize that modern airports must compete not just on operational efficiency but on the quality of the traveler experience they deliver.
Source ID: SRCE-2025-1764102510224-916