newstodate.aero
Sep 18, 2009 (newstodate): Squeezed-in between two potent competitors - Finland's Helsinki Vantaa Airport and Latvia's fast-expanding Riga Airport, Estonia's Tallinn Airport will have to fight hard to secure its business.
-In 2008 Tallinn Airport handled over two million passengers. By September we were 25 percent down, year-on-year, and we now estimate to land around 1.4 million passengers in 2009, which is still 25 percent lower than last year, says Rein Loik, Tallinn Airport general manager.
-As for air cargo, volumes are also sliding in 2009, but we are still the largest cargo airport in the Baltic region.
-Of course we, as most others in the industry, are faced by many problems. First, Estonia is not exactly in the middle of Europe or even the region, meaning that flights between European destinations and Estonia are longer and more expensive than many other segments.
-Secondly, Latvia's airBaltic is growing very strongly, making Riga Airport the hub for the Baltic region. There are now many flights between Tallinn and Riga where Estonian passengers transfer to European flights. And many cities in Estonia are even closer to Riga Airport, making it an obvious choice.
-Also Estonian Air has not been as successful as airBaltic, also maybe due to uncertainties around its future ownership structure. SAS wants to sell its stake, but in the meantime investors are reluctant about the outcome, and this immediately influences the development of Estonian Air.
-Se we really have to hope to a change for the better soon, with an improvement in the economic climate and a solution to Estonian Air's future financial situation, says Mr Loik.
-In 2008 Tallinn Airport handled over two million passengers. By September we were 25 percent down, year-on-year, and we now estimate to land around 1.4 million passengers in 2009, which is still 25 percent lower than last year, says Rein Loik, Tallinn Airport general manager.
-As for air cargo, volumes are also sliding in 2009, but we are still the largest cargo airport in the Baltic region.
-Of course we, as most others in the industry, are faced by many problems. First, Estonia is not exactly in the middle of Europe or even the region, meaning that flights between European destinations and Estonia are longer and more expensive than many other segments.
-Secondly, Latvia's airBaltic is growing very strongly, making Riga Airport the hub for the Baltic region. There are now many flights between Tallinn and Riga where Estonian passengers transfer to European flights. And many cities in Estonia are even closer to Riga Airport, making it an obvious choice.
-Also Estonian Air has not been as successful as airBaltic, also maybe due to uncertainties around its future ownership structure. SAS wants to sell its stake, but in the meantime investors are reluctant about the outcome, and this immediately influences the development of Estonian Air.
-Se we really have to hope to a change for the better soon, with an improvement in the economic climate and a solution to Estonian Air's future financial situation, says Mr Loik.