SAS returns to Tallinn market

SAS, following the cessation of operations of Estonian Air, has returned to the Tallinn (TLL) market on 16 November – which it last served in June 2008 (according to OAG Schedules data) from Stockholm ‒ with the start-up of flights from Copenhagen (CPH) and Stockholm Arlanda (ARN). Operations from Oslo will commence next month.

Services from the Danish capital will be flown 16 times weekly by CRJ 900s, while the 23 times weekly operation from the Swedish capital will be flown by ATR 72s. “Tallinn is a destination with a high proportion of frequent travellers and is also a popular holiday getaway. We therefore decided to act quickly, as Tallinn is a large and important destination in our region.

Scandinavia also occupies a geographically advantageous location for shuttle services to and from Estonia,” says Eivind Roald, EVP Commercial at SAS. Competition on both routes comes in the form of Adria Airways, which had introduced scheduled services from Tallinn on 8 November, in conjunction with Nordic Aviation Group, which was created by the Estonian government to ensure a continuation of connections between Estonia and the rest of the world. In the initial phase, its flights are being operated by partner airlines bmi regional, Carpatair, NextJet and Trade Air. A further competitor is Estonian regional carrier Avies, which also flies four times weekly between Stockholm and Tallinn.