Confirmed: New Prague-Vilnius route to be flown by lewdly-named planes

Starting in late March 2025, airBaltic will launch a new route connecting Lithuanian capital Vilnius to Prague. The route will operate twice a week, on Thursdays and Sundays, offering Czech travelers easier access to the Baltic region.

But what makes the new route extra-special for Czech passengers is that the planes flying on this route will include two that bear the names Kunda and Püssi—Estonian towns chosen by popular vote. The press team for airBaltic confirmed that the newly-named planes would be among those deployed to operate its new routes, including the Vilnius-Prague connection.

Earlier this summer, airBaltic held a contest to name 48 of their new Airbus A220-300 aircraft after cities across Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania. What began as a regional contest quickly gained attention from Czech voters, who played a significant role in propelling the small Estonian village of Kunda to the top of the rankings.

The Estonian town with a population of around 3,000 attracted attention not for its cultural or historical significance, but because its name, in Czech, is a vulgar slang term for female genitalia. Püssi came in second in the poll, likely for similar reasons, while Tallinn, Estonia’s capital, came in a distant third.

“We are excited to expand airBaltic’s operations in the Czech Republic with this new route to Vilnius," airBaltic Senior Vice President Thomas Ramdahl stated in a press release.

"We thank our partners at Václav Havel Airport Prague for their long-term cooperation, and we look forward to offering local passengers an even wider range of convenient travel options to explore the Baltics.” 

Speaking to Novinky.cz, airBaltic's press team confirmed that these names will be applied to their aircraft, and the planes will be deployed across their network based on operational needs. It's possible that Czech passengers flying on the Vilnius-Prague route will board a plane named after the Estonian towns of Kunda or Püssi.

The new route between Prague and Vilnius is expected to enhance connectivity between Central Europe and the Baltics, offering both leisure and business travelers more options. The tickets are priced at €65 (approximately 1,627 CZK) for economy class and €299 (around 7,500 CZK) for business class.

Popular attractions in Vilnius include its medieval old town, Gediminas Tower, and the Hill of Three Crosses. The new route is a welcome addition for Czech tourists looking to explore Lithuania—or just take a ride on a plane with a humorous name.