newstodate.aero

Oct 05, 2020 (newstodate): One air war has ended in Estonia, with the fight over who will operate flights on the 210 km route between Tallinn and the Baltic island Kuressaare.
   Emerging as the confirmed winner of the four-years PSO contract is the Estonian carrier Nyxair that will start operating the route from December 2020 with ATR 42-500 aircraft.
    The tender was opened due to the demise of the former provider since 2012 of air services on the route, Avies that had its operations suspended on April 1, 2016, after the airline's operating license was withdrawn by Estonian Civil Aviation Administration.
   Today, the Lithuanian carrier Transaviabaltika operates the route with an 18-seat Jetstream 3200 aircraft, and the new procurement will bring a larger aircraft to the route.  
   The air procurement has however been delayed for more than a year due to several disputes.
   The initial choice of Nyxair was strongly disputed by another Estonian company Nordica that has now, at long last, had its objections overturned by the government allowing Nyxair to prepare for taking over from Transaviabaltika.