In 2008 Estonian Air carried altogether 756,795 passengers, 685,595 of these on regular flights. The total number of passengers increased 1.5% y-o-y, on regular flights 5.2 %, while Tallinn Airport passenger numbers increased by 4.8% and 2.3% respectively. The load factor was 68.1%.

In December Estonian Air carried 39,249 passengers, out of which 36,602 on regular flights. The number of passengers on regular flights decreased 17.5% y-o-y. The total number of passengers on Estonian Air flights decreased 20.3% y-o-y. 

“In the first five months of 2008 the number of passengers grew 16.8%, but since summer the economic recession at global and local markets and the drop in demand for air travel have decelerated the growth in passenger number. In the last months of the year the growth in passenger numbers turned into a fall and we forecast the same trend for the first months of 2009,“ said Andrus Aljas, Estonian Air President and CEO.

In 2008 the market share of Estonian Air in the regular flights segment at Tallinn Airport was 45.7%, which is 1.7 percentage points higher y-o-y. The total market share (regular and charter flights) was 41.5%, which is 1.5 percentage points lower y-o-y.

In December the market share of Estonian Air in the regular flights segment at Tallinn Airport was 41% and the total market share was 36%.

In 2008 Estonian Air operated 12,201 flights, which is 19.6% more flights y-o-y. In December 714 flights were operated, which is 14.5% less flights y-o-y. In 2008 the regularity of Estonian Air was 99% and the 15-minute punctuality was 85.5%. In December the regularity and punctuality were 99% and 89.6% respectively.

The fastest-growing destinations in 2008 were Moscow with a 30% growth y-o-y, followed by Kiev and Stockholm where the number of passengers grew by 15% and 7% respectively.

Estonian Air belongs to the most regular and punctual air carriers in Europe. Estonian Air’s flight regularity in 2007 was 99.6%, which put it in 4th place compared to the members of the AEA (Association of European Airlines). Estonian Air’s flight punctuality in 2007 was 81.6%, which put it in 8th place compared to the members of the AEA.