Urmas Klaas: air services are a matter of survival for Tartu
Tartu City Government Press Release
22 September / In light of the unexpected announcement by Finnair that it will stop flying from Tartu at the end of October, the city government has begun discussions to restore regular air services.
According to Mayor of Tartu Urmas Klaas, the preservation of international air services is crucial for the economic and social development of the whole of Southern Estonia. ‘Tartu will be the European Capital of Culture in 2024, and many related activities will begin as early as next year. Fast and convenient connections to Europe are vital for the continued development of the city.’
‘Unfortunately, today’s situation shows that it is not possible to organise flights from Tartu under market conditions. As air services are a matter of survival for us, we plan to organise a public procurement ourselves as soon as possible to restore regular air connections,’ said Urmas Klaas, Mayor of Tartu.
According to Mayor Urmas Klaas, the city government is proposing that the council define flying from Tartu as a service of general interest and to ensure air service to at least one important city by imposing a public service obligation. Helsinki, Riga and Stockholm are currently under discussion as destinations.
Designating the route as a public service obligation will give the City of Tartu a wider range of possibilities to support air services, Klaas explained. On the basis of similar principles, the state has also organised, for example, a public procurement for the operation of air routes between islands.
Last changed 22.09.2022
