Eastern Europe Aviation
2008: Good year for Estonia’s flag carrier
In 2008, Estonian Air has said it carried 756,795 passengers, 685,595 of these on regular flights. The total number of passengers increased 1.5 percent year-on-year (y-o-y), on regular flights 5.2 percent, while Tallinn Airport passenger numbers increased by 4.8 percent and 2.3 percent respectively. The load factor was 68.1 percent.
In December, Estonia’s national carrier said it welcomed 39,249 passengers, out of which 36,602 on regular flights. The number of passengers on regular flights decreased 17.5 percent y-o-y. The total number of passengers on Estonian Air flights decreased 20.3 percent y-o-y.
“In the first five months of 2008 the number of passengers grew 16.8 percent, but since summer the economic recession at global and local markets and the drop in demand for air travel have decelerated the growth in passenger number. In the last months of the year the growth in passenger numbers turned into a fall and we forecast the same trend for the first months of 2009,“ said Andrus Aljas, Estonian Air president and CEO.
In 2008, the market share of Estonian Air in the regular flights segment at Tallinn Airport was 45.7 percent, which is 1.7 percentage points higher y-o-y. The total market share (regular and charter flights) was 41.5 percent, which is 1.5 percentage points lower y-o-y.
In December, the market share of Estonian Air in the regular flights segment at Tallinn Airport was 41 percent and the total market share was 36 percent.
In 2008, Estonian Air operated 12,201 flights, which is 19.6 percent more flights y-o-y. In December 714 flights were operated, which is 14.5 percent less flights y-o-y.
In 2008, the regularity of Estonian Air was 99 percent and the 15-minute punctuality was 85.5 percent. In December, the regularity and punctuality were 99 percent and 89.6 percent respectively.
The fastest-growing destinations in 2008 were Moscow with a 30 percent growth y-o-y, followed by Kiev and Stockholm where the number of passengers grew by 15 percent and 7 percent, respectively, Estonian Air added.
Estonian Air belongs to the most regular and punctual air carriers in Europe. Estonian Air’s flight regularity in 2007 was 99.6 percent, which put it in 4th place compared to the members of the AEA (Association of European Airlines). Estonian Air’s flight punctuality in 2007 was 81.6 percent, which put it in 8th place compared to the members of the AEA.
Estonian Air was founded on December 1, 1991. Estonian Air, with headquarters in Tallinn, provides for both business travelers and tourists direct air link from Estonia to many European cities.
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