OREANDA-NEWS. March 25, 2011. Estonian Air’s management has decided to return this year Saab 340 aircraft to the leasing company in order to replace them with bigger turbo-propeller planes. The change is related to the strategic goal of Estonian Air to offer its customers faster and more frequent air links between Estonia and various European cities, reported the press-centre of Estonian Air.

Currently Estonian Air is assessing the final decision on the aircraft type and taking steps in implementing a new aircraft type in its network.

Consequently, Estonian Air has decided to decrease the number of flights with Saab 340 already from the beginning of the summer flight schedule in order to have the transition to the new aircraft type more smooth and cost effective.

The returning process will take place step by step and from April 2011, Estonian Air Regional serves flights with one SAAB plane. This leads to changes in the regional flight schedule: as from 1 April to 2 September 2011, Estonian Air will discontinue flights to between Tallinn and Vilnius and from 28 March to 26 October 2011, between Tallinn and Minsk. However, Estonian Air will operate flights between Tallinn and Minsk to meet the higher seasonal demand on 15 and 18 April 2011 and 6 and 9 May 2011.

Every customer who has booked or bought tickets onto cancelled flights will be offered alternatives by Estonian Air individually or have the ticket refunded.

Estonian Air apologizes for any inconvenience to the passengers.