newstodate.aero
Apr 12, 2010 (newstodate): Competition rules in Estonia's air transport market, and it is up to the market to decide on which carrier is the most successful.
-With airBaltic's decision to open a new base at Tallinn Airport from June 1, 2010, the picture is again changing, says Rein Loik, Tallinn Airport chairman of the management board.
-Basically, there are two scenarios opening with airBaltic's entry into Estonia: either they will compete head-on with Estonian Air on this carrier's routes, threatening this carrier, or they will open traffic mainly on routes currently not served by Estonian Air. In either case it is up to the market to respond to these options.
-We will see airBaltic flying alongside Estonian Air on the important route between Tallinn and Stockholm - but they are really serving two different segments. Estonian Air is basically feeding traffic to and from Estonia into SAS' route network at Stockholm, while airBaltic will provide point-to-point traffic between the two destinations.
-But on other routes, existing or currently not served by Estonian Air, it is obvious that if airBaltic sees an opportunity they will seize it. And this is really what competition is about.
-For both carrier, profitability is required to secure air services, and it remains up to the travelers to chose between alternatives.
-Tallinn Airport is happy to see traffic growing and welcome any carrier that offers a viable business case, says Mr Loik.
-With airBaltic's decision to open a new base at Tallinn Airport from June 1, 2010, the picture is again changing, says Rein Loik, Tallinn Airport chairman of the management board.
-Basically, there are two scenarios opening with airBaltic's entry into Estonia: either they will compete head-on with Estonian Air on this carrier's routes, threatening this carrier, or they will open traffic mainly on routes currently not served by Estonian Air. In either case it is up to the market to respond to these options.
-We will see airBaltic flying alongside Estonian Air on the important route between Tallinn and Stockholm - but they are really serving two different segments. Estonian Air is basically feeding traffic to and from Estonia into SAS' route network at Stockholm, while airBaltic will provide point-to-point traffic between the two destinations.
-But on other routes, existing or currently not served by Estonian Air, it is obvious that if airBaltic sees an opportunity they will seize it. And this is really what competition is about.
-For both carrier, profitability is required to secure air services, and it remains up to the travelers to chose between alternatives.
-Tallinn Airport is happy to see traffic growing and welcome any carrier that offers a viable business case, says Mr Loik.