Sustainability

From 2020 to 2025, Vilnius Airport, together with 13 international partners — including Copenhagen Airport, Rome Airport, SAS, IATA, and others — participated in the ALIGHT project funded by the EU Horizon 2020 Smart Airports research and innovation programme. 

The aim of the project was to demonstrate how future airport infrastructure should be designed to reduce and ultimately eliminate CO₂ emissions. Project activities focused on identifying solutions for the successful implementation of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) supply, as well as developing smart airport systems such as renewable energy integration, energy storage, energy management, electrification, and other sustainability measures. 

Since 2024, Lithuanian Airports have officially joined an international project focused on developing innovative hydrogen solutions for the aviation sector. The BSR HyAirport project aims to identify practical solutions for adapting airport infrastructure to future hydrogen‑powered aircraft, using hydrogen as an alternative fuel for airport ground support equipment, and preparing airports to store, process, and supply green hydrogen as a future aviation energy source. 

The total project budget is EUR 4.8 million, part of which is allocated to activities coordinated by experts from Lithuanian Airports. More than 40 organizations are involved in the project, including airports from the Baltic Sea Region, technology companies, and scientific research institutions. 
The project will create a unique platform for jointly developing, implementing, and testing practical solutions to address shared challenges and the specific needs of hydrogen‑powered aviation. 

Please send the completed compensation application form by email to [email protected]

Information for land plot owners, natural persons using land under a contract registered in the Real Property Register, as well as those whose place of residence is unknown or who could not be reached by registered mail. 

Joint-stock company Lithuanian Airports (hereinafter – LTOU) hereby informs about the strategic noise maps for Vilnius, Kaunas and Palanga civil aerodromes approved by the Order of the Minister of Transport and Communications of the Republic of Lithuania No. 3‑69 of 28 February 2024 “On the Approval of Strategic Noise Maps for Vilnius, Kaunas and Palanga Civil Aerodromes for Establishing Noise Protection Zones” (hereinafter – TAZ Maps). These maps form the basis for establishing noise protection zones (hereinafter – TAZ) around Vilnius, Kaunas and Palanga civil aerodromes. 

The purpose of preparing the TAZ Maps is to comply with the requirements set out in Article 3, Article 6(1)(6), Article 7(3)(4), Articles 54 and 55 of the Law on Special Land Use Conditions of the Republic of Lithuania (hereinafter – the SŽNSĮ), Article 13(2) of the Aviation Law, and points 10 and 12 of the Rules for Preparing, Coordinating, Approving, Publishing Strategic Noise Maps and Reimbursing the Costs of Noise Reduction Measures, approved by Government Resolution No. 1369 of 2 December 2020. 

Special Land Use Conditions in Aerodrome Noise Protection Zones 

According to Article 55 of the SŽNSĮ, the following activities are prohibited within aerodrome TAZ: 

• construction of residential, recreational, healthcare buildings; general education, vocational, higher education institutions, kindergartens and nursery buildings; science and research buildings intended for formal or non-formal education; recreational or healthcare buildings; 

• installation of the above‑mentioned types of premises in buildings of other designated uses, including through reconstruction or repair; 

• changing the use of buildings or premises to any of the above‑mentioned purposes; 

• Planning areas for recreational developments intended for the uses listed above, except when such developments are intended exclusively for the needs of the aerodrome operator and/or airport‑related activities. 

Reconstruction of residential buildings is prohibited if such reconstruction increases the external dimensions of the building. 

Right to Apply for Compensation 

Following Article 11(3) and 11(4) of the SŽNSĮ, LTOU also informs land plot owners, persons whose rights to the land are registered in the Real Property Register, and persons whose place of residence is unknown or who could not be reached by registered mail, of their right to apply to LTOU for reimbursement of the costs of implementing noise‑reduction measures within designated aerodrome TAZ. 

These compensations may be paid based on the 2023 Compensation Maps, approved by Order No. 3‑68 of the Minister of Transport and Communications of 28 February 2024, for buildings (premises) listed in Article 14(2) of the Aviation Law that fall within TAZ I, II or III zones as defined in the 2023 Compensation Maps. 

Land plots (or their parts) located within the designated TAZ in Vilnius City Municipality, Kaunas District Municipality, Jonava District Municipality and Palanga City Municipality, where the owners or users under registered agreements could not be contacted, are published on the LTOU website under the Sustainability section. 

Access to Approved Maps 

The approved TAZ Maps (publicly available since 27 December 2023), indicating the list of land plots (or their parts) falling within the TAZ territories, are available on the LTOU website under the Sustainability section. 

The approved 2023 Compensation Maps, indicating buildings (premises) belonging to owners or trustees eligible for compensation within TAZ I, II and III areas, are also available on the LTOU website under the Sustainability section. 

Map Preparation and Contact Information 

The TAZ Maps and 2023 Compensation Maps were prepared by: 
Lithuanian Airports, legal entity code 120864074, Rodūnios kelias 10A, 02189 Vilnius, tel. +370 5 273 9326, e‑mail: [email protected]. 

The person responsible for the preparation of TAZ Maps and 2023 Compensation Maps: 
Aldona Jokubauskienė, Environmental Projects Manager, tel. +370 669 39454, e‑mail: [email protected]. 

For information regarding TAZ Maps, 2023 Compensation Maps, or related queries, please contact: Aldona Jokubauskienė, Environmental Projects Manager, tel. +370 669 39454, e‑mail: [email protected]. 

List of Land Plots Included in the Strategic Noise Maps 

To protect residents living closest to airports from aircraft‑generated noise

The obligation to designate TAZ around civil aerodromes with a paved runway of at least 1,200 meters is established in Article 54 of the Law on Special Land Use Conditions (SŽNSĮ), in force since 1 January 2020. TAZ replaces the previously required Sanitary Protection Zones (SAZ) defined in Article 24 of the Noise Management Law No. IX‑2499. Under the updated regulation, airports must establish TAZ based on actual noise levels. 

It is permitted to live in areas where a Noise Protection Zone (TAZ) has been designated and registered, whereas in a Sanitary Protection Zone (SAZ) residential buildings were not allowed. 

According to the Noise Management Law No. IX‑2499, aircraft noise‑reduction measures are set by the Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Lithuania. 

For aerodromes with an artificial runway of no less than 1,200 metres, the entity responsible for establishing TAZ is the airport operator.In the case of Vilnius, Kaunas, and Palanga airports, LTOU is responsible for establishing TAZ in accordance with the procedures set out in applicable legal acts. This obligation is defined in the Rules for the Preparation, Coordination, Approval, Publication of Strategic Noise Maps and Reimbursement of Costs for Implementing Noise Reduction Measures (Government Resolution No. 1369). 

Lithuanian Airports: Vilnius, Kaunas, and Palanga. 

TAZ boundaries are established based on the methodology defined in applicable legal acts. 
An aerodrome’s TAZ is determined using a modelled strategic (perspective) noise map when: 

• the forecast night‑time noise indicator (Lnight) exceeds 55 dBA, and 

• the day‑evening‑night noise indicator (Lden) exceeds 65 dBA 
  (as specified in Article 13 of the Aviation Law). 

The procedure for preparing, coordinating, approving and publishing strategic noise maps is defined in the Rules for the Preparation, Coordination, Approval, Publication of Strategic Noise Maps and Reimbursement of Costs for Implementing Noise Reduction Measures, approved by the Government. 

Strategic noise maps, which form the basis for establishing TAZ boundaries, are prepared using the following data: 

• Registers and state information systems: data from registered information systems and state registers (excluding personal data). 
• National spatial data sets and maps: the datasets and maps approved by the Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of Lithuania, including cartographic materials and the latest available spatial data. 
• Data on aircraft operations at civil aerodromes: information on historical aircraft movements and noise indicators (day, evening and night), as well as forecasts for the maximum number of aircraft movements (for no less than the next 10 years) according to civil aerodrome master plans or traffic flow forecasts. 
• Standard aircraft take‑off and landing trajectories. 
• Aircraft types and their emitted noise levels. 
• Other data needed for noise modelling, as specified in the Rules and in accordance with the methodology established in Lithuania. 

Within an aerodrome’s Noise Protection Zone (TAZ), it is prohibited to: 

• construct buildings intended for residential, recreational, healthcare, general education, vocational or higher education purposes, childcare facilities, or other educational buildings for formal or non‑formal education; as well as recreational or healthcare buildings; 

• establish premises of the above‑listed purposes within buildings of another use, including during reconstruction or renovation; 

• change the purpose of buildings or premises to any of the above‑listed purposes; 

• plan territories for recreational development requiring construction of the above‑listed buildings, except when such facilities are used solely for the needs of the aerodrome operator and/or activities related to airport operations. 

If building permits for such constructions were issued before the approval and registration date of the TAZ maps, these construction restrictions do not apply. Special land‑use conditions apply only to activities that were planned and/or initiated after the TAZ maps were approved and registered. 

Within an aerodrome TAZ, the construction and reconstruction of buildings for hotel, administrative, commercial, service, transport, industrial, garage, storage, specialized, sports, gardening, auxiliary farm and other non‑residential purposes is permitted. In such cases, TAZ restrictions do not apply. 

According to the provisions of the Rules (Clause 18), noise‑reduction measures may be installed in: 

• residential buildings, 

• recreational buildings, 

• healthcare buildings, 

• general education, vocational and higher education buildings, 

• childcare facilities (kindergartens, nurseries), 

• buildings intended for educational purposes, 

• and other buildings used for non‑formal education. 

According to legal requirements, the validity of TAZ is unlimited. 

TAZ and the special land‑use conditions applied within them take effect from the date on which the strategic noise maps intended for establishing TAZ are approved and registered in the Real Estate Register. 

Applications for compensation for the implementation of noise‑reduction measures may be submitted within 3 years from the date of public announcement of the strategic noise maps or within 3 years from the date on which the compensation applicant becomes eligible. 

The maximum compensation amount for a single‑family residential building is EUR 6,000 (in TAZ Zone II, including VAT). 
However, the exact compensation amount depends on: 

• the type of noise‑reduction measures installed, 

• the size (useful floor area) of the premises where measures are installed, 

• data provided in the central database extract of the Real Estate Register. 

The full list of maximum compensation amounts is provided in Annex 1 of the Rules. 

You can contact us by e‑mail: [email protected]