The Estonian national airline Estonian Air will fold following a decision by the European Commission that funding given to the company by the Estonian government was not in line with EU regulations. Nordic Aviation Group will take over the routes.

The board of Estonian Air today decided to halt all business activity from Sunday, November 8. The company, founded in 1991, does not have the funds to pay back the state and will declare bankruptcy.

The government has set up two companies, which will begin to take over from Estonian Air. One (Nordic Aviation Group) will manage Estonian Air’s routes, while the other (Transpordi Varahaldus) will take on lease contracts.

Economy Minister Kristen Michal said on Friday that if a negative decision is made, then the Estonian Air fleet will be grounded from Sunday.

He said those at their destinations will be flown back home and those with tickets for future flights, will receive compensation. Those with an Estonian Air ticket have been asked to go to www.estonianair.ee or call +372 605 8888 for more information.

Nordic Aviation Group starts offering direct flights from Tallinn in cooperation with five European airlines

Formed by appointment of Estonian government and fully state-owned Nordic Aviation Group in cooperation with five European flight operators starts serving passengers on eight different routes – Amsterdam, Brussels, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Oslo, Kiev, Trondheim and Vilnius – from November 8, 2015. The first flight operated by Nordic Aviation will depart to Amsterdam at 6:50 AM.

Currently the role of Nordic Aviation is limited to ordering the flights as the company does not have its own fleet nor crew yet. The flights are carried out in cooperation with such airlines as BMI, Trade Air, NextJet and Carpatair that provide the fleet and the crews, and Adria Airways that provides the flight operator’s certificate, commercial platform and ticketing system. Thus, the rules of Adria Airways will initially apply on Nordic Aviation flights.

Nordic Aviation flight schedule from November 8, 2015:
- 2 times a day to Amsterdam (except Saturday evenings),
- 2 times a day to Brussels (except Saturdays and Thursday, Friday and Sunday mornings)
- 3 times a day to Copenhagen (except Saturday evenings and Sunday mornings),
- 4 times a day to Stockholm (3 times on Fridays and 2 times on Saturdays and Sundays),
- 2 times a day to Oslo (except Saturdays),
- 5 times a week to Kiev (except Tuesdays and Saturdays, starting from November 9),
- 2 times a week to Trondheim (on Fridays and Sundays),
- 2 times a day to Vilnius (on weekdays).
- There is a plan to open a route to Munich on Saturdays starting from December 19 (until the end of March).