OREANDA-NEWS. November 10, 2010. Estonian Air’s passenger numbers are growing fifth month in a row- in September the total number of passengers increased 12.3 %, of which on regular flights increased by 11.6 % and decreased on charter flights by 19.0% y-o-y, reported the press-centre of Estonian Air.

In September Estonian Air carried 57 398 passengers, out of which 52 242 on regular flights.

In the first nine months Estonian Air carried altogether 440 669 passengers, out of which
397 753 on regular flights. Estonian Air carried from Tallinn 414 601 passengers. The total number of passengers was on the same level y-o-y, on regular flights decreased 0.8 %.

“The nine month result is influenced by the decrease in passenger number in the first four months of the year. Starting from May the number of passengers has been increasing steadily and achieved the highest growth in September this year,“ commented Rauno Parras, Estonian Air Vice President Commercial.

In the first nine months the market share of Estonian Air in the regular flights segment at Tallinn Airport was 42.1%, which is 4.3 percentage points lower y-o-y. The total market share (regular and charter flights) was 39.7 %, which is 2.4 percentage points lower y-o-y.

„The slight fall in the market share is coming from optimisation of our operations while the local market has been growing but the number of seats offered by Estonian Air has remained at the same level. Since the demand of air travel is stabilising Estonian Air is planning to increase the number of seats as well,“ added Parras.

In the first nine months Estonian Air operated 7738 flights, which is 0.8% more flights y-o-y. In September Estonian Air operated 981 flights, which is 2.0 % more flights y-o-y.

In the first nine months the regularity of Estonian Air was 98.1% and the 15-minute punctuality was 87.4%. In September the regularity and punctuality were 99.3% and 90.9% respectively.