According to aviation consultant Toomas Peterson, Estonia’s national airline Estonian Air should be turned into a low-cost carrier.
Expert: turn Estonian Air into budget carrier
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«However, the big scale-effect classics like AF-KLM, British Airways and Lufthansa will probably survive, in Europe, as well as budget carriers mainly flying point to point and covering cheaper, more obscure airports,» writes Mr Peterson, former head of Civil Aviation Administration.
Old and small classics like Estonian Air face the choice of swift change or breathing their last, says Mr Peterson.
«Therefore, before obtaining licences from Brussels, I’d advise that Estonian Air be turned into a so-called budget carrier, ceasing to harp on the worn-out notion of flag carriers. Fly point to point to 9-10 destinations, using 5-6 optimal sized planes of the same model,» says Mr Peterson.
The consultant thinks it vital to secure an overdraft facility from «vikings», with government guarantee. «In other words, the main goal being for us peripheral people to fly from here. And to be able to receive the honourable investors and other guests.»