newstodate.aero
Apr 08, 2010 (newstodate): Estonian Air is still waiting for the outcome of on-going sales talks between SAS, holding 49 percent of the shares, and the Estonian state. but positive about its future.
-We are a point-to-point carrier serving the Estonian market with direct flights to a number of major European destinations. With a limited aircraft fleet we have no intentions of going beyond this concept, says Andrus Aljas, Estonian Air President & CEO.
-Also we must be very realistic in our approach, serving a limited market that is even declining in volume as the population is decreasing. In addition, Estonia's Tallinn Airport is facing stiff competition from a number of strong airports within short flying-times, including Helsinki, Riga, Vilnius and St Petersburg that is poised to become the main hub in the region.
-Our key to success remains a future efficient fleet of three ex-factory CRJ900 NextGen aircraft to replace our current fleet of less fuel-efficient Boeing 737 aircraft; a lean organization that has cut 40 percent of its costs during the recent period; and enhanced services including a differentiated product portfolio soon to be announced.
-Our current fleet comprises four Boeing 737-300 aircraft, to be supplemented from this month by fifth aircraft leased till the start of the winter schedule, and we have positive expectations for the traffic during this summer season where we will also benefit from the recent launch of the six weekly flights from Tallinn via Vilnius to Amsterdam in cooperation with KLM.
-Competition in the market also comprises operations by the low-cost carriers, but the situation here is rather stable since the launch, in 2004, of the first flight by easyjet, and we are now also seeing Norwegian adding flights to Tallinn, but still it poses no major threat to us.
-The currently most important issue to see the resolution of the ownership issue that will further clarify the framework for our airline's future, says Mr Aljas.
-We are a point-to-point carrier serving the Estonian market with direct flights to a number of major European destinations. With a limited aircraft fleet we have no intentions of going beyond this concept, says Andrus Aljas, Estonian Air President & CEO.
-Also we must be very realistic in our approach, serving a limited market that is even declining in volume as the population is decreasing. In addition, Estonia's Tallinn Airport is facing stiff competition from a number of strong airports within short flying-times, including Helsinki, Riga, Vilnius and St Petersburg that is poised to become the main hub in the region.
-Our key to success remains a future efficient fleet of three ex-factory CRJ900 NextGen aircraft to replace our current fleet of less fuel-efficient Boeing 737 aircraft; a lean organization that has cut 40 percent of its costs during the recent period; and enhanced services including a differentiated product portfolio soon to be announced.
-Our current fleet comprises four Boeing 737-300 aircraft, to be supplemented from this month by fifth aircraft leased till the start of the winter schedule, and we have positive expectations for the traffic during this summer season where we will also benefit from the recent launch of the six weekly flights from Tallinn via Vilnius to Amsterdam in cooperation with KLM.
-Competition in the market also comprises operations by the low-cost carriers, but the situation here is rather stable since the launch, in 2004, of the first flight by easyjet, and we are now also seeing Norwegian adding flights to Tallinn, but still it poses no major threat to us.
-The currently most important issue to see the resolution of the ownership issue that will further clarify the framework for our airline's future, says Mr Aljas.