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VILNIUS, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- Reconstruction of Lithuania's main international Vilnius airport's runway will cost 25 million euros (28.3 million U.S. dollars), the firm Lietuvos oro uostai (LUO, Lithuanian Airports) said Monday.
"We conducted a comprehensive research in terms of technical solutions, market situation given similar projects and other airports' experience, thus we are confident the (reconstruction) price is reasonable," Arturas Stankevicius, director of Vilnius international airport, was quoted as saying in the statement.
One million euros will be spent for the first stage of works which will start in a few weeks and last for approximately nine months, while the main reconstruction works valued at 24 million euros will take place next summer, from July 14 to Aug. 17.
Vilnius international airport will be fully closed for all flights during the period of time, LUO said in a statement. Aircraft approaching Lithuania will be redirected for landing at Kaunas Karmelava airport located almost 100 km away.
Meanwhile, representatives of Lithuanian tourism organizations questioned the airport company's decision to close the country's main airport for reconstruction during the busiest travel season.
Zydre Gaveliene, president of Lithuania's National Tourism Business Association, pointed to lack of long-term vision in terms of receiving growing inbound tourism flows in Lithuania.
According to LUO forecasts, nearly 4,350 flights and more than 400,000 travelers would be received at Vilnius airport during the reconstruction period in July-August next year. Based on the company's calculations, it is expected to redirect 77 percent of the flights and 90 percent of passengers.
Back in July, Vilnius airport announced that it served its two-millionth passenger this year. The airport expects to cross the threshold of 3.5 million travelers at the end of the year.
Currently, 18 airlines operate regular flights from Vilnius airport to 53 destinations. Enditem
