Company briefs - 2012-03-01

Estonia’s national carrier Estonian Air has concluded a contract with Embraer on buying three Embraer 175 and one Embraer 190 planes and will lease eight more Embraer planes, Postimees Online writes. Estonian Air has selected Embraer’s family of E-Jets to revamp its entire fleet of narrow-body and regional jets. Estonia’s national carrier and Embraer signed a contract for the purchase of three E175s and one E190. Estonian Air will also take eight additional aircraft, four E170s and four E190s, under a combination of lease agreements with third parties and leasing companies. The direct purchase from Embraer is subject to the approval of Estonian Air’s Supervisory Council. The first of four E170s leased from Finnair is entering service this month, while the additionally aircraft will be delivered in the second part of 2014. Estonian Air joins a growing list of customers in Northern and Eastern Europe that have identified E-Jets as the preferred platform to replace their ageing aircraft and simplify their fleets. Nine airlines – Bulgaria Air, LOT Polish Airlines, Finnair, Air Moldova, Montenegro Airlines, Belavia, Dniproavia, Aerosvit and Air Astana – have ordered or are currently flying Embraer E-Jets.

A government task force has been set up that will have to prepare an action plan for tackling problems in Latgale and fostering the province’s development, according to a statement printed in the government’s official newspaper “Latvijas Vestnesis”. The task force will be formed according to Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis’ (Unity) decree. The task force was established “to tackle the continuing negative economic, social and demographic trends in Latgale province, to introduce a special medium-term development instrument, ensure economic development and attraction of investment, and draw up a development plan.” The task force is headed by Minister of Environmental Protection and Regional Development Edmunds Sprudzs (Zatlers Reform Party), while Welfare Minister Ilze Vinkele (Unity) is Sprudzs’ deputy. The task force’s members are Dombrovskis’ advisor on cultural and political planning matters Ints Dalderis (Unity), Culture Minister Zaneta Jaunzeme-Grende (All For Latvia-For Fatherland And Freedom/LNNK), Education and Science Minister Roberts Kilis, Economy Minister Daniels Pavluts, Transport Minister Aivis Ronis, Agriculture Minister Laimdota Straujuma and Finance Minister Andris Vilks (Unity). By March 20, the draft action plan must be presented to the prime minister. Politicians started to pay attention to Latgale’s problems after local residents protested the changes in the procedure of excised goods movement across the border, and even more attention after the language referendum as more than one-half of referendum participants in Latgale voted for Russian as the second state language.