ESTONIAN AIR has started scheduled services between Estonian capital Tallinn and London. The arrival of the Boeing 737-500 at Gatwick Airport on 2 November marked the first-ever service between the two cities. Four flights a week are operating to London, two of them via Copenhagen.
The Estonian national carrier took delivery of its 737 in June as the first step in replacing its ageing Soviet fleet, and should have received a second at the end of October. The strike at Boeing, however, is delaying delivery, and has forced the airline to keep a Tupolev Tu-134A on some European routes.
The airline retains three in active service, having sold three, and is offering for sale the remaining five of an 11-strong fleet. The Tupolevs will be phased out altogether in 1996 when a third 737-500 is expected to be leased from ILFC.
Although the Estonian Privatisation Agency decided in January that the airline was to be partially privatised this year, to bring in much-needed capital, there have been no takers so far, says Estonian Air's general director, Toomas Peterson. The Estonian Government is offering a 66% stake in the airline.
Source: Flight International
