Prime Highlights:
- flydubai starts its first direct flights from Vilnius and Riga to Dubai, offering a new premium travel option with lie-flat Business Class seats.
- The new route strengthens links between the Baltics and Dubai, boosting opportunities for travel, business, and tourism.
Key Facts:
- The Vilnius–Dubai route will operate three times a week year-round using Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, with a flight time of approximately six hours.
- Despite recent airspace disruptions in Lithuania, flydubai has contingency plans to use nearby airports like Riga, ensuring smooth operations for passengers.
Background:
Flydubai will start its first direct flight from Vilnius, Lithuania, to Dubai, UAE, marking an important step in connecting the Baltics to the world. The first flight from Vilnius (VNO) to Dubai (DXB) will take place on December 11, 2025, with a similar route from Riga (RIX) starting on December 12, 2025.
The flights will run three times a week all year, using Boeing 737 MAX aircraft for the six-hour journey. For the first time in Lithuania, flydubai will offer a Business Class with lie-flat seats, giving passengers a more comfortable and premium travel option.
At the launch event in Vilnius, flydubai executives and Lithuanian Airports (LTOU) officials highlighted the potential for both business and leisure travel. “Dubai will be a priority on this flight, but our aim is to make Lithuania and the Baltics more visible to the world,” said Jeyhun Efendi, Divisional Senior Vice President Commercial Operations at flydubai. Lithuanian Airports CEO Simonas Bartkus added, “This is not only a new destination but also a new product that our customers haven’t experienced before.”
The route, originally planned for late 2024, was postponed due to aircraft delivery delays. Efendi said that strong demand, better aircraft, and improved services helped make the 2025 launch a success.
Even with recent disruptions in Lithuanian airspace caused by illegal balloons, flydubai is confident it can keep its schedule. The airline can also use nearby airports like Riga if needed. Bartkus added that 95% of passengers are travelling without any issues, showing how well the airport is managing the situation.
This new route connects Vilnius and Riga to Dubai, making travel, business, and tourism easier between the Baltics and the UAE.
