[Anonymous]

[AMcWhirter]

It has just been announced that Estonian Air will ceased operations on November 8.

The Baltic carrier operated a variety of routes mainly from Tallinn to points in Europe and Scandinavia.

A brief announcement is posted on the airline’s website.

http://www2.estonian-air.ee/#

[TominScotland]

I was in Estonia last week and flew on leg with them (AMS – TLL) – no word of this anywhere. Really sad as Estonian offered good service and modern, comfortable aircraft.

[AMcWhirter]

There’s so much happening elsewhere that this news has been overshadowed by other events.

But news now emerging says it’s to do with state aid. The EC has ordered the airline to pay back money it has received from the government.

The amount in question is 85 million Euros. In addition it will not be allowed to receive a further 40 million Euros restructuring aid.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-11-07/estonian-air-ceases-operations-after-eu-orders-state-aid-return

[MartinJ]

Looks like the usual winter season bloodbath is happening again this year. Intersky, a German-based niche carrier, also filed for bankcruptcy and ceased operations last week. Who’s next?

[AnthonyDunn]

@MartinJ – 07/11/2015 18:19 GMT

Any idea whether and what cash reserves LH have to tide them over into their third (calendar) year of industrial unrest?

Bearing in mind the tendency of the French and Germans to take the view that EU rules over budgets, state aid etc are “for the little nations to adhere to…”, rather than themselves, it would be fascinating to witness the European Commission telling Frau Merkel that no, she could not bailout what was, once upon a time, Europe’s premier airline.

Now that really would take balls….

[AMcWhirter]

Air Nordic has taken over many of the routes operated by Estonian Air.

http://news.err.ee/v/economy/b313be8c-d350-4965-9776-db3e11c3b0ae/nordic-aviation-group-takes-over-estonian-air-routes

And the latest news is that SAS is now stepping in to operate many more flights to Tallinn from Copenhagen/Oslo/Stockholm.

Flights are set to start next week. Details of the exact start date and the schedules are still unavailable.

Initial reports talk of four daily flights from Stockholm, three from Copenhagen and one from Oslo.

It means that international travellers will be able to through tickets to Tallinn via one of the SAS hubs and earn alliance FFP miles etc.

[esselle]

My understanding is that they knew this was coming, hence the plans being pretty well defined already.

[Author]

Posts