Foundation and early years Palanga Airport started operations in 1937 at a site east of the current terminal, near the Palanga-Darbėnai road. The
Lithuanian Air Force pilots were trained there. In 1939, the first scheduled airline service in Lithuania began operating on Kaunas – Palanga route. During the
Soviet occupation, the airport was used by the Soviet Air Force. The new air strip and facilities at the current site first appeared during the post-World War II period. In 1963, the airport was converted to a civilian airport. In 1991, Palanga Airport was re-registered as a national airport owned and run by the state. Since 1993, the number of passengers passing through the airport has been increasing annually. Between 1994 and 1997, the passenger terminal was renovated. Passenger services and luggage handling was modernized to comply with the requirements of the
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Between 1994–1995, the flight control center was refurbished. In 1996–1997 the runway surface, and in 1998 the airport apron and taxiways were renovated. Since 1997, the airport joined the major international aviation organization ACI (
Airports Council International).
Development since 2000 After Lithuania became a member of the
European Union, passengers in 2004 increased more than 60% in comparison with that of 2003. Infrastructure improvements continued in 2007 with the construction of North terminal to expand the terminals' area by as well as to comply with
Schengen border crossing regimen. In June–October 2007 the runway 01/19 was expanded to along with installation of LIH (high intensity) lighting and embedding the runway centerline lights. The facility expansion completed in 2007 has made long-range route servicing a possibility. Over two hundred people are employed by the airport facilities. ==Terminals==