Estonian Air
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| Estonian Air | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
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| IATA OV |
ICAO ELL |
Callsign ESTONIAN |
| Founded | 1991 | |
| Hubs | Lennart Meri Tallinn Airport | |
| Frequent flyer program | EuroBonus | |
| Member lounge | Business Class Lounge | |
| Fleet size | 6 (+3 orders) | |
| Destinations | 25 | |
| Parent company | Scandinavian Airlines System | |
| Headquarters | Tallinn, Estonia | |
| Key people | Andrus Aljas (CEO) Rait Kalda (COO) Maigi Pernik-Pärnik(CFO) Rauno Parras (CCO) |
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| Website: http://www.estonian-air.com/ | ||
AS Estonian Air is Estonia’s national carrier, owned by the Estonian state, SAS Group and investment bank AS Cresco. The airline is based in Tallinn, Estonia. It is a regional airline feeding into the Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS) network via Stockholm, Oslo and Copenhagen from Estonia. AS Estonian Air has one subsidiary and two joint ventures: in co-operation with the parent company AS Estonian Air Regional operates Saab 340 aircraft and provides commercial air services to the neighboring region; Estonian Aviation Fuelling Services AS provides aircraft fueling services at Tallinn Airport and AS Amadeus Eesti provides distribution system and support to local travel agents.[1]
Estonian Air is owned by the SAS Group (49%), Estonian Government (34%) and Cresco (17%). It has 380 employees (as of March 2007).[1]. Unlike its affiliated carrier, Scandinavian Airlines, Estonian Air is not a member of the Star Alliance or any other airline alliance.
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[edit] History
The airline was established by the Estonian government with aircraft acquired from the defunct local Aeroflot Division[2] Estonian Air started operation on 1 December 1991 with a service to Frankfurt.[citation needed]
In 1992 the airline became a member of IATA and the first Boeing 737-500 was delivered in 1995. Partially privatised in 1996 with 66% of shares to Maersk Air (49%) and Cresco investment bank (17%).[1] The company leased two Boeing 737-500s to replace its old Soviet planes, and in 1996, after obtaining two more Fokker 50s, it was able to retire the Soviet fleet entirely.
In 2003 Maersk Air sold its shares to SAS and the Fokker 50s were retired. By 2004 the airline had carried its 500,000th passenger.
In March 2007 Estonian Air announced that they will lease another Boeing 737-500 and serve a new destination, Vienna. Estonian Air has leased two Saab 340s and in June 2008 Estonian Air established a new company Estonian Air Regional. Under that name it added new destinations from Tallinn to Kuressaare, Stockholm, Helsinki and Vilnius. Later on to Saint Petersburg and to Minsk.
Estonian Air has strong links with Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS). It operates frequent flights to SAS hubs in Copenhagen, Oslo and Stockholm. The airline boasts "Well connected with SAS" status and the airline's frequent flyer programme is SAS' EuroBonus scheme. Other products and services shared with SAS include co-ordinated timetabling and shared airport lounges.
In 2008 three new destinations (Minsk, Munich and Rome) were served and the company announced that it was ordering 3 Bombardier CRJ900 NG and further 3 options. On 27 November 2008, Estonian Prime Minister Andrus Ansip announced that SAS had approached the Estonian government, urgently requesting a cash injection to save the airline and offering to buy out the government's stake in the airline. The Estonian government is reportedly in negotiations with ferry company Tallink to come up with a counter-proposal.[3]
In 2009 Estonian Air will give up its Vienna, Frankfurt and Simferopol route. Company will close its ground handling division. New destinations - Amsterdam and Berlin. Pärnu-Stockholm route. SAS codesharing for Pärnu-Stockholm and Kuressaare-Stockholm routes.
[edit] On Board Service
[edit] Premium Class
In the Premium Class cabin travel passengers with classical Business Class tickets, plus passengers traveling on Flexible Economy fares. All passengers in the Premium Class cabin have free catering on board.
[edit] Travel Class
Travel Class is designed for passengers with Economy fare tickets (Internet-only, campaign fares and lowest Economy fares). Economy fares do not include free meal on board. Passengers will be offered a buy-on-board menu of snacks and beverages.
[edit] Destinations
See also SAS Group destinations
[edit] Fleet
Estonian Air fleet includes the following aircraft as of 30 March 2009[4]:
| Aircraft Type | Total | Seats | Routes | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boeing 737-300 | 2 | 142 | Medium range | leased from ILFC and GECAS |
| Boeing 737-500 | 3 | 118 | Medium range | leased from ILFC |
| Bombardier CRJ900 NG |
(3 orders)(+3 options) |
88 | Medium range | |
| Saab 340A | 2 | 33 | Short range | leased from Saab Aircraft Leasing |
Routes, operated by Saab 340 aircraft, will be operated with one service class with a service level depending on the destination.
[edit] Retired Fleet
- Tupolev TU-134A 11 (1990-1996)
- Yakovlev YAK-40 4 (1990-1996)
- Boeing737-500 6 (1995-2009)
- Fokker 50 5 (1996-2003)
[edit] Partners
SAS Group Airlines:
Other Airlines:
[edit] Business Class Lounge
Estonian Air Business Class passengers and SAS EuroBonus Gold/Pandion card holders are welcome to Business Class Lounge in the transit area. Payphone, free newspapers and magazines are available. Other facilities include a bar, Internet-connected computers and printers.
[edit] References
- ^ a b c Flight International 3 April 2007
- ^ AS Estonian Air
- ^ [1]The Baltic Times, December 4, 2008
- ^ Estonian Fleet - Amateur website
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Estonian Air |
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