Belarus Balloon Incursions Cost Lithuania's Airports Over €750,000
Lithuanian airports are grappling with significant operational and financial disruption caused by repeated balloon incursions originating from Belarus. According to Lithuanian Airports (LTOU), the suspected cigarette-smuggling balloons have disrupted approximately 320 flights since early October 2025, resulting in losses exceeding €750,000. However, officials caution that this estimate is preliminary, with final damage assessments still underway.
The human impact has been substantial. More than 45,000 passengers were affected during October and November alone—representing approximately 5% of Vilnius Airport’s total passenger traffic over the two-month period. The disruptions intensified dramatically during the final weekend of November, when Vilnius Airport faced consecutive closures. On November 29-30, the airport closed for eight and eleven hours respectively, with the latter representing the longest closure in the airport’s history.
The November 30 closure proved particularly disruptive, impacting 7,400 passengers and 50 flights. Of these, 31 flights were canceled, 10 were diverted, and nine experienced delays. Saulius Batavičius, CEO of state-owned air navigation provider Oro Navigacija, revealed that 60 balloons were recorded during this closure, with 40 positioned in critical aviation zones. Most concerning, Batavičius indicated the balloons appeared deliberately launched into dangerous areas at calculated intervals, suggesting a coordinated campaign rather than random incidents.
The incursions represent what Lithuanian officials characterize as a hybrid attack on critical infrastructure. In response, the Lithuanian government closed its border with Belarus on October 29, maintaining the closure for nearly a month. However, when the border reopened on November 19, the balloon flights resumed immediately, indicating a systematic pattern of disruption.
Vilnius Airport has borne the brunt of these incidents, experiencing at least 10 closures since early October. Kaunas Airport faced one closure during the same period. Despite these operational challenges, airline industry representatives report relative stability in flight schedules. Simonas Bartkus stated on December 2 that airlines show no indication of reducing service to Lithuania, though some passengers are opting for daytime flights to minimize disruption risk.
The incident underscores vulnerabilities in aviation security infrastructure and raises questions about coordinated responses to asymmetric threats targeting commercial aviation networks across the region.
Source ID: SRCE-2025-1764676846230-1059