Ryanair, Europe’s no.1 airline, today (03 Feb) announced that it will reduce its Summer ‘23 schedule at Tallinn by 35% severing direct ties between the Estonian capital and 6 major cities (incl. Dublin, Malta and Naples), as well as reducing flights to Berlin. These cuts are a direct result of Tallinn Airport’s illogical decision to increase charges by an excessive 33%. This huge loss in connectivity was totally avoidable had Tallinn Airport not decided to increase its charges.

These new ill-thought-out charges are wildly excessive and make Tallinn, Estonia’s primary airport, completely uncompetitive compared to its European counterparts who are lowering charges to recover and grow traffic / connectivity post-pandemic. All the while, Tallinn’s reckless decision to increase charges by 33% will cause massive damage to Estonian tourism, connectivity, traffic and jobs as evidenced by these Summer cuts.

Ryanair calls on Tallinn Airport and the regulator to reverse its strategy of excessive airport charges that damage connectivity and jobs and to focus on lowering costs which would see airlines like Ryanair grow tourism and jobs in the region.

Ryanair’s Dara Brady said: 

“We regret that despite numerous attempts from Ryanair to mediate a sensible solution with both Tallinn Airport and the Regulator to prevent this avoidable loss in connectivity and traffic, Tallinn Airport has proceeded with its ill-thought-out and illogical decision to increase airport charges by an unbelievable 33%, and as a result, Ryanair will reduce its Summer schedule at here by 35% (including direct connections to 6 major European cities).

Eero Pärgmäe’s earlier comments that Ryanair closed these routes in response to competition are equally as illogical and ludicrous given Ryanair was the sole operator on each of these (now unserved) routes, and we haven’t become Europe’s biggest airline by avoiding competition. No other airline can compete with Ryanair’s low fares.

Unfortunately, there seems to be an attempt within some Baltic Airports to seek (astoundingly similar) excessive charge increases above 30%, which has caused similar capacity cuts from European carriers – such as Ryanair’s recent cuts in Vilnius (c. 30% of our Summer schedule). Thankfully Riga Airport saw sense and withdrew their charges proposal and salvaged their schedule, albeit like Tallin, must work toward cost reductions like competing European airports if they are to secure future traffic growth.

This reckless decision by the airport comes at the expense of Estonian citizens, who now face massive damage to local business / tourism, lost connectivity, jobs, and traffic – all of which could have been avoided if not for these excessive and baseless charge increases.”