Estonia’s connectivity is being improved, brining in more tourists and investors. But the goals are more ambitious still. Tallinn Airport is expected to reach at least 60 regular destinations and five million passengers a year by 2030 under new targets set by the Estonian state. ERR reports that the targets are tied to investment in terminal capacity and airport infrastructure.
The airport served around 3.5 million passengers last year. Its summer network is already close to 60 destinations, but the state’s objective is a stable year-round network with direct connections to Europe and other strategically important markets.
Airport route growth must become year-round capacity
The owner-expectations document signed by Infrastructure Minister Kuldar Leis calls on Tallinn Airport to attract new airlines, open routes and give passengers a broader choice of direct connections. It also requires competitive aviation service pricing and terminal capacity that can meet projected demand.
The document says that the frequency of connections must be “reasonable” and that the network should meet the needs of the Estonian economy. It also retains commercially profitable and efficient operations as strategic objectives. The emphasis is on the quality and stability of connections.
€75M upgrade supports the 2030 target
The state has already announced a €75M upgrade for Tallinn Lennart Meri Airport. The project is intended to improve the terminal environment and provide capacity for the passenger and destination targets.
The owner-expectations document also allows Tallinn Airport’s financial position, investment needs and dividend capacity to be considered. Its main strategic objective remains the expansion of international air connections, while short-term financial measures may be used to maintain or restore routes that are important to Estonia during exceptional changes in the aviation market.
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