Where is Ryanair?

  • 2007-10-17
  • By Joel Alas

FLIGHT OF FANCY: Optimism over reaching a deal to bring Ryanair to Tallinn has been tempered by a hardline stance on airport fees.

TALLINN - At the start of the year Edgar Savisaar, then the minister for the economy and communications, assured Estonians that Ryanair would be flying to Tallinn by autumn.
It is now autumn, and Ryanair is still no closer to landing at Ulemiste. Talks between Europe's largest low-budget airline and the Ministry for Economy and Communications have been going on for well over a year, but seem no closer to a resolution.
The two parties met again on Oct. 12, when the airline expressed continued interest in a Tallinn route. Siim-Valmar Kiisler, assistant to Minister Juhan Parts, met with Michael Cawley, the vice-president of Ryanair.
The airline is still holding out for a reduction in airport fees, something that, until now, Tallinn Airport has not been willing to budge on.

Tallinn Airport CEO Rein Loik gave the first signal that fees might decrease 's not just for Ryanair, but for all airlines.
In an interview with Aripaev newspaper on Oct. 16, Loik said fees may drop, but he doubted that Ryanair would arrive in Estonia during 2008. Savisaar's optimism has been replaced with careful non-committal statements from both parties. Some observers have begun to question whether the airline will ever reach Tallinn at all.