31-695: Estonian Air was the flag carrier airline of Estonia between 1991 and 2015. Headquartered in Tallinn it operated scheduled services from Tallinn Airport . Prior to its closure, the airline flew from Tallinn to 11 destinations in Europe . From 1991 to 1996, and again from 2010, Estonian Air was owned by the Estonian government . In 2010, the Estonian government had purchased the company back from SAS Group to ensure it did not go bankrupt. On 7 November 2015,
62-644: A public company or a state-owned enterprise , while others have been completely privatized . The aviation industry has also been gradually deregulated and liberalized, permitting greater freedoms of the air particularly in the United States and in the European Union with the signing of the Open Skies agreement. One of the features of such agreements is the right of a country to designate multiple airlines to serve international routes with
93-538: A second constitution was approved by referendum which saw the introduction of a two chambered legislature, the Chamber of Deputies [ et ] ( Riigivolikogu ) and the National Council ( Riiginõukogu ). Elections were subsequently held in 1938 where only individual candidates were allowed to run. During the subsequent periods of Soviet occupation (1940–41), German occupation (1941–44), and
124-799: A certificate under Section 401 of the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 (i.e., any U.S.-based airline operating internationally), and any ship registered in the United States is known as a U.S. flag vessel . The term "flag carrier" is a legacy of the early days of commercial aviation when governments often took the lead by establishing state-owned airlines because of the high capital costs of running them. However, not all such airlines were government-owned; Pan Am , TWA , Cathay Pacific , Union de Transports Aériens , Canadian Pacific Air Lines and Olympic Airlines were all privately owned, but were considered to be flag carriers as they were
155-944: A counter-proposal. In 2009, Estonian Air gave up its Vienna, Frankfurt and Simferopol routes. The company closed its ground handling division. New destinations from Tallinn were Amsterdam , Berlin and St. Peterburg , new route was Tartu –Stockholm. In 2010, Estonian Air started cooperation with KLM, announcing the new Tallinn–Vilnius–Amsterdam route (starting from 12 February 2010). Estonian Air started operating flights to Trondheim 5 September 2011, with 5 weekly flights. In November 2011, Estonian Air announced reopening flights to Riga , 17 weekly flights starting from 25 March 2012, and to Helsinki, 18 flights weekly starting from 26 March 2012. As well as opening flights to Vienna, 6 weekly starting from 25 March 2012, and to Hannover , 6 weekly flights starting from 2 April 2012. It also announced increased flights to Stockholm, St. Petersburg and Vilnius starting from March 2012 and add extra flights on
186-472: A fleet of 6 aircraft with an average age of 8.2 years – 3 Bombardier CRJ900s , 2 CRJ700s and a single Embraer E-170 . The company was phasing out its 4 Embraers with plans to operate with 8-10 Bombardier CRJs. On all flights there were two classes of service: Passengers holding Business or Flexible Economy fare tickets were seated in the forward sections of the one-cabin aircraft. All high-fare passengers were served snacks or meals and beverages depending on
217-448: A given sovereign state , enjoys preferential rights or privileges accorded by the government for international operations. Historically, the term was used to refer to airlines owned by the government of their home country and associated with the national identity of that country. Such an airline may also be known as a national airline or a national carrier , although this can have different legal meanings in some countries. Today, it
248-678: A moderate threshold (2%) was used. The sessions of the Riigikogu take place in the Toompea Castle , where a new building in an unusual Expressionist style was erected in the former courtyard of the medieval castle in 1920–1922. In 1933 amendments to the first Constitution was approved by referendum, where more power was given to an executive President. The following year, the President used these new powers to adjourn parliament and declared martial law to avert an alleged coup. In 1937,
279-422: Is any international airline with a strong connection to its home country or that represents its home country internationally, regardless of whether it is government-owned. Flag carriers may also be known as such due to laws requiring aircraft or ships to display the state flag of the country of their registry . For example, under the law of the United States, a U.S. flag air carrier is any airline that holds
310-512: The European Commission ruled that the government funding given to the company had been in breach of the European Union regulations and must be paid back. Estonian Air, not having such funds, ceased all its operations the next day and immediately entered the process of liquidation. A new state-owned airline, Nordica , entered operations the same day. The airline was established by the Estonian government with aircraft acquired from
341-803: The Soviet fleet entirely. In 2003, Maersk Air sold its shares to SAS and the Fokker 50s were retired. By 2004, the airline had carried its 500,000th passenger. In March 2007, Estonian Air announced that they will lease another Boeing 737-500 and serve a new destination, Vienna . Estonian Air has leased two Saab 340s and in June 2008 Estonian Air established a new company, Estonian Air Regional. Under that name, it added new destinations from Tallinn to Kuressaare , Stockholm , Helsinki and Vilnius . Later on to Saint Petersburg and to Minsk . In 2008, three new destinations (Minsk, Munich and Rome ) were served and
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#1732781172017372-531: The "main national airline" and often a sign of their country's presence abroad. The heavily regulated aviation industry also meant aviation rights are often negotiated between governments, denying airlines access to an open market. These Bilateral Air Transport Agreements similar to the Bermuda I and Bermuda II agreements specify rights awardable only to locally registered airlines, forcing some governments to jump-start airlines to avoid being disadvantaged in
403-535: The Business Class Lounge in the transit area in Tallinn. Payphone, free newspapers and magazines were available. Other facilities included a bar, Internet-connected computers and printers. [REDACTED] Media related to Estonian Air at Wikimedia Commons Flag carrier A flag carrier is a transport company, such as an airline or shipping company, that, being locally registered in
434-562: The Riigikogu also ratifies significant foreign treaties that impose military and proprietary obligations and bring about changes in law, as well as approves the budget presented by the government as law, and monitors the executive power. 23 April 1919, the opening session of the Estonian Constituent Assembly is considered the founding date of the Parliament of Estonia. Established under the 1920 constitution ,
465-467: The Riigikogu had 100 members elected for a three-year term on the basis of proportional representation . Elections were fixed for the first Sunday in May of the third year of parliament. The first elections to the Riigikogu took place in 1920. From 1923 to 1932, there were four more elections to the Riigikogu. The elections were on a regional basis, without any threshold in the first two elections, but from 1926
496-561: The Tallinn- Moscow route during the December 2011 holidays. As of 10 May 2010, the government of Estonia and SAS Scandinavian Airlines have agreed to a transaction where the Estonian government provides an additional 21 million EUR in capital to Estonian Air resulting in the stake of SAS in the carrier to decrease from 49% to 10%. At the same time, the two parties have agreed that the Estonian government gets an option to buy
527-542: The beginning of 2011 (both planes were delivered in January 2011), and a third one in 2012. The agreement with SAS Scandinavian Airlines was signed on 10 September 2010 and it took effect on 27 October 2010 when the Estonian Parliament ratified the 2010 state budget modifications, allocating needed funds for investment. In November 2011, Minister of Economic Affairs Juhan Parts proposed that SAS should follow
558-487: The company already took a big step late in 2011 by clearing up its messy leadership issues. After further poor financial results in 2012, the government of Estonia decided to fire CEO Tero Taskila. From 1 November 2012, the new CEO was Jan Palmér, who has had over 20 years of experience with different airlines in Scandinavia . On 8 November 2015, Estonian Air ceased all operations after the European Commission declared
589-432: The company announced that it was ordering three Bombardier CRJ900 NG and further 3 options. On 27 November 2008, Estonian Prime Minister Andrus Ansip announced that SAS had approached the Estonian government, urgently requesting a cash injection to save the airline and offering to buy out the government's stake in the airline. The Estonian government is reportedly in negotiations with ferry company Tallink to come up with
620-409: The defunct local Aeroflot Division. In 1992, the airline became a member of IATA and the first Boeing 737-500 was delivered in 1995. The company was partially privatised in 1996, with 66% of shares to Maersk Air (49%) and Cresco investment bank (17%). The company leased two Boeing 737-500s to replace its old Soviet planes, and in 1996, after obtaining two more Fokker 50s , it was able to retire
651-445: The established 5% national threshold , and the use of a modified D'Hondt formula (the divisor is raised to the power 0.9). This modification makes for more disproportionality than does the usual form of the formula. The seat allocation refers to de facto allocation, as defectors from fractions are not allowed to join other ones between elections. The salary of the speaker is €8318.19 per month. Established on October 5 of 1992,
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#1732781172017682-421: The face of foreign competition. Some countries also establish flag carriers such as Israel 's El Al or Lebanon 's Middle East Airlines for nationalist reasons or to aid the country's economy, particularly in the area of tourism. In many cases, governments would directly assist in the growth of their flag carriers typically through subsidies and other fiscal incentives. The establishment of competitors in
713-406: The form of other locally registered airlines may be prohibited or heavily regulated to avoid direct competition. Even where privately run airlines may be allowed to be established, the flag carriers may still be accorded priority, especially in the apportionment of aviation rights to local or international markets. Near the end of the 20th century, many of these airlines have been corporatized as
744-436: The government funding received by the airline illegal which would have forced them to pay back over €85 million. Replacement services on key Estonian Air routes have been established on short notice by the government-supported joint venture Nordic Aviation Group (NAG) under leadership of Adria Airways in joint operations with several European regional carriers. As of the airline's shutdown on 8 November 2015, Estonian Air had
775-530: The remaining 10% stake from SAS at a later time between then and 2014. Estonian Air and SAS Scandinavian Airlines will continue to cooperate in the same fashion for the time being. The short-term aim of the government is to become a leading shareholder and to invest in the company to ensure its future, as Estonian Air is strategically important to the state. In September 2010, Estonian Air announced that they have finally signed an agreement with Bombardier, in which two CRJ-900 NextGen aircraft are going to be delivered in
806-494: The result that there is no single "flag carrier". The chart below lists airlines considered to be a "flag carrier", based on current or former state ownership or other verifiable designation as a national airline. Minority (20.05%) in the Lufthansa Group acquired in 2020 was sold in 2022. Riigikogu Opposition (35) The Riigikogu ( Estonian: [ˈriːɡ̊iˈkoɡ̊u] , from Estonian riigi- , "of
837-649: The second Soviet occupation (1944–1991) the Parliament was disbanded. The premises of the Riigikogu were used by the Supreme Soviet of the Estonian SSR during the second Soviet occupation. In September 1992, a year after Estonia had regained its independence from the Soviet Union, elections to the Parliament took place on the basis of the third Constitution of Estonia adopted in a referendum in
868-465: The state", and kogu , "assembly") is the unicameral parliament of Estonia . In addition to approving legislation, the Parliament appoints high officials, including the prime minister and chief justice of the Supreme Court , and elects (either alone or, if necessary, together with representatives of local government within a broader electoral college) the president . Among its other tasks,
899-551: The state's lead in making substantial investments in Estonian Air. SAS Vice-President Sture Stolen however said that this is unlikely: "We have a good and important partnership with them, but it is not our strategy to be part owners in Baltic airlines". Estonian Air's new CEO and former AirBaltic chief commercial officer Tero Taskila expected the company to be profitable by 2012 after losing money since 2005. According to Taskila,
930-471: The summer of the same year. The 1992 constitution, which incorporates elements of the 1920 and 1938 Constitutions and explicitly asserts its continuity with the Estonian state as it existed between 1918 and 1940, sees the return of a unicameral parliament with 101 members. The most recent parliamentary elections were held on 5 March 2023. The main differences between the current system and a pure political representation , or proportional representation, system are
961-529: The time of departure and length of the flight. Alcoholic drinks were included in the ticket price as well (wine, sparkling wine, gin, rum, brandy etc.). Eco Class was the Economy-fare product. Refreshments had to be purchased from a buy on board drink menu. As of March 2015, Eco Class passengers were offered complimentary coffee, tea and water on all flights. Estonian Air Business Class passengers and SAS EuroBonus Gold/Pandion card holders were welcomed to