Latvia and Lithuania resolve disagreements over air navigation over Baltic Sea

VILNIUS – Latvia and Lithuania have reached agreement on air navigation over the neutral waters in the Baltic Sea, thus ending bilateral negotiations, which lasted for over a dozen years, on sharing responsibility for the 39 km section, Lithuania's state-run company oro Navigacija (Air Navigation) said on Friday.

Under the agreement signed earlier this week, the Lithuanian company will provide traffic management, air navigation information and search and rescue services in the Area Ninta airway section, and Latvia's LGS will be responsible for warnings in case of emergency, air traffic control and planning, communication, navigation and surveillance services.

According to Oro Navigacija, the new agreement will improve conditions for Lithuania as it clearly defines Lithuania and Latvia's responsibilities, which allows improving the quality of services. Moreover, Lithuania will receive levy funds.

In 1998, the Lithuanian and Latvian governments signed am agreement on delegating responsibility for air traffic control in this area to Latvia, despite the section being part of the Vilnius flight information region. It was then only agreed on the transfer of air traffic control services to Latvia.