Pärnu seeks new airport operator to attract international flights

Estonia’s Pärnu Airport is looking for a new operator to bring international flights to the city, ERR reported, as air traffic has dwindled in recent years. Its only scheduled service is a flight to Ruhnu, which operates from October to May.

The state, Pärnu city and Tallinn Airport signed an agreement in 2017 under which the state would make an initial investment in the airport’s infrastructure and cover part of its operating costs. Pärnu pays the remaining costs. The agreement runs until 2031.

Last year, the state contributed 522,000 euros towards the airport’s costs, while the city paid 390,000 euros. Pärnu Mayor Siim Suursild said the city had spent substantial sums on an airport with few flights, adding that the main priority was to attract flights to Pärnu, rather than enable local residents to fly elsewhere.

Suursild said the airport’s decline began during the pandemic, when aviation worldwide was disrupted. Representatives of the parties met at the Ministry of Climate last week and agreed to seek a new operator capable of revitalising the airport and bringing in international routes. A competition to find one is expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

Tallinn Airport board member Katrin Hagel said no airline had so far been willing to serve Pärnu on a commercial basis, meaning significant investment would be needed to establish an international route. She cited the Helsinki route from Tartu, which receives investment from the city of Tartu, as an example of such an arrangement.

Besides the scheduled Ruhnu service, Pärnu Airport handles occasional private flights and maintains cargo aircraft in its hangar. Airport manager Erki Teemägi said quieter periods in autumn and spring are used for additional training, equipment maintenance and paperwork.

The Ministry of Climate’s head of aviation, Taivo Linnamägi, said the airport remains important for maintaining a winter connection to Ruhnu and that additional business opportunities would be welcome.