What’s on the Horizon for Tallinn Airport: New Routes, Partnerships, and Growth
At the recent Routes Europe 2024 conference, Tallinn Airport (TLL), Estonia’s main gateway located in its capital city, highlighted its recent achievements and strategic plans for future growth. With nearly three million passengers served in 2023, TLL has reached a 91% recovery of its pre-pandemic traffic levels. The airport has ambitious plans for 2024, including new route launches and a targeted increase in capacity to meet the growing demand for travel to and from Estonia.
Record Growth and New Airline Partners
In 2023, Tallinn Airport successfully introduced nine new routes and is poised for further expansion in 2024. This year’s summer schedule is expected to see a 20% increase in capacity, driven by the addition of new airline partners and routes.
Among the noteworthy additions:
- Eurowings: Launched a new route to Prague in March 2024 with a thrice-weekly service, which expanded to four times weekly by May.
- Transavia France: Initiated a twice-weekly service between Paris Orly Airport (ORY) and TLL starting in April 2024.
- Flydubai: Starting October 12, 2024, passengers will have direct access to Dubai from Tallinn, marking the first direct flight to the United Arab Emirates in Estonian history. This new route not only connects Estonia with Dubai but also offers a gateway to numerous other international destinations.
Strategic Partnerships and Tourism Promotion
Tallinn Airport’s collaboration with its destination marketing organization, Visit Estonia, has been instrumental in promoting Estonia as a travel destination. Since 2022, this partnership has resulted in 10 marketing campaigns aimed at boosting the airport’s presence across the European market, with seven additional campaigns planned for 2024.
Eero Pärgmäe, Chief Commercial Officer at TLL, emphasized the importance of this collaboration during the Routes Europe 2024 conference: “We are very actively working together with our destination marketing organization because of the incoming tourism market. Key markets include France, Germany, and the UK, with Spain identified as an unserved leisure market for Estonians.”
Ensuring Route Sustainability
To maintain the sustainability of its new routes, Tallinn Airport is investing in multi-channel marketing initiatives in collaboration with airline partners. This proactive approach helps to ensure the long-term success and viability of new routes by promoting them effectively to potential travelers.
As Tallinn Airport continues to expand its route network and enhance its partnerships, it remains a pivotal player in Estonia’s growing tourism sector. With ambitious plans and strategic collaborations, TLL is set to continue its trajectory of growth and success, connecting Estonia to more destinations around the world.