The return of the European fifth freedom route

Estonian Air's Chairman, Joakim Helenius, has indicated the carrier plans to develop a new route plan using Vilnius (Lithuania) and airports in Poland as layover points for services into western Europe. The carrier has already trialled Tallinn-Vilnius-Amsterdam services, achieving average load factors of 83%, including a record 90% average in Jul-2010. Using the scheme will allow the carrier to operate daily services to Paris, London, Milan, Rome and other western European routes. Some profitable direct services, such as Moscow, Brussels and Copenhagen will be retained. Estonian Air hopes to announce further details of the strategy in early Feb-2011.