Zokniai airfield Infrastructure

In the part of Šiauliai city called Zokniai, an airfield has been operating since the interwar period, later becoming an airport.

In 1931, it was decided to establish an airfield in Zokniai, the flat fields and gravelly soil were perfect for airplanes. On June 1, the 3rd and 4th reconnaissance squadrons, equipped with LVG C.VI and Albatros C.XV airplanes, were transferred from Kaunas to Zokniai. Hangars, a headquarters building and barracks were built, and Major Leonardas Peseckas became the first commander of the base.

As the capabilities of the Lithuanian military aviation grew, the Zokniai airfield expanded: new hangars, aircraft repair shops were built here, and a bombing range was established near Šilėnai. In 1937, the 5th squadron with Letov Š-20 and FIAT CR20 fighters was transferred to Zokniai, and in 1938 these old fighters were replaced by modern Gloster Gladiators, which achieved excellent results in the Finnish-USSR (Winter) War.

In 1936, during the military reforms of S. Raštikis, military aviation was decentralized, and Zokniai airfield became one of the main military bases of the country. The military aviation forces expanded here, aviation workshops were established, which contributed to the maintenance and repair of aircraft, and later famous designers, such as Bronius Oškinis, worked there. Zokniai airfield became a strategic point, the importance of which grew due to the deployment of nuclear weapons nearby during the Soviet era.

In 2005, at the request of city businessmen, the Šiauliai City Municipality Enterprise “Šiauliai Airport” was established. After Lithuania became a member of NATO, the repair of the airfield runways also began: in 2005, the reconstruction of the backup runway was carried out. Funds were allocated by NATO.

The reconstruction of the main runway was officially completed with the grand opening of the runway on October 26, 2006. The specialists who conducted the flight survey and certification of the reconstructed airfield recognized it as the best in all of Eastern Europe.