newstodate.aero
Nov 28, 2011 (newstodate): With a fleet of smaller aircraft in 2011, cargo volumes are down at Estonian Air. But air cargo remains one of the carrier's focus areas.
-At least for the first two or three years, the Bombardier CRJ900 will be the mainstay of the airlines aircraft fleet, and this aircraft of course puts limits on the weight and dimensions of air cargo loads, says Toomas Orukivi, Estonian Air Cargo Manager.
-At the same time, with our new strategy comes the opening of new routes and more frequencies to and from the main business centers in Europe, with for instance tight schedules to Amsterdam, Brussels and not least the Scandinavian market.
-Depending on passenger loads, there is still room for cargo like smaller parcels and express shipments, and we are now analyzing the actual cargo performance during this first period with the CRJ900 route by route to achieve a comprehensive market analysis and identify potentials for further growth.
-This process of analysis will require some months, so I expect the results to be on the table early in 2012, after which we will make decisions on where to go as to cargo on Estonian Air.
-The integrators are quite obviously doing pretty well in Estonia, and while they are doing a great job, we would still be able to compete with them on a growing number of destinations with more daily rotations, compared to their single evening or morning flights to transfer points in Europe from where distribution is then proceeding.
-So even if capacity is down as we replace the Boeing 737 with CRJ900 operations, new windows are opening and opportunities arising. The challenge is to understand the market and to make clever decisions on how to perform under the new circumstances, says Mr Orukivi.
Estonian Air is to take delivery of its 3rd Bombardier CRJ900 aircraft in December, and plans have been mulled for the acquisition of another batch of aircraft in 2012.
-At least for the first two or three years, the Bombardier CRJ900 will be the mainstay of the airlines aircraft fleet, and this aircraft of course puts limits on the weight and dimensions of air cargo loads, says Toomas Orukivi, Estonian Air Cargo Manager.
-At the same time, with our new strategy comes the opening of new routes and more frequencies to and from the main business centers in Europe, with for instance tight schedules to Amsterdam, Brussels and not least the Scandinavian market.
-Depending on passenger loads, there is still room for cargo like smaller parcels and express shipments, and we are now analyzing the actual cargo performance during this first period with the CRJ900 route by route to achieve a comprehensive market analysis and identify potentials for further growth.
-This process of analysis will require some months, so I expect the results to be on the table early in 2012, after which we will make decisions on where to go as to cargo on Estonian Air.
-The integrators are quite obviously doing pretty well in Estonia, and while they are doing a great job, we would still be able to compete with them on a growing number of destinations with more daily rotations, compared to their single evening or morning flights to transfer points in Europe from where distribution is then proceeding.
-So even if capacity is down as we replace the Boeing 737 with CRJ900 operations, new windows are opening and opportunities arising. The challenge is to understand the market and to make clever decisions on how to perform under the new circumstances, says Mr Orukivi.
Estonian Air is to take delivery of its 3rd Bombardier CRJ900 aircraft in December, and plans have been mulled for the acquisition of another batch of aircraft in 2012.