Estonian Air, Lithuanian Carrier Not Ruling Out Merger
In light of Estonian Air's partnership with Air Lituanica, a privately owned Lithuanian carrier that was launched in May, executives are saying the option of a future merger is on the table.
Air Lituanica is currently leasing one Embraer 170 aircraft from Estonian Air and plans to rent a second one from the end of the month. The new Lithuanian carrier is also renting a flight crew and using Estonian Air's ticket sales system. The initial contract terminates in the summer of 2015, ETV reported.
Air Lituanica's maiden flight took place on June 30. The carrier currently offers flights from Vilnius to Amsterdam and Brussels. In a few weeks it will start a Berlin route and it hopes to open another three destinations in the fall.
"For the first time in many many years we had a positive result in June which means now we are utilizing all our resources in a very good way so Lituanica is a very interesting project for us," said Estonian Air CEO Jan Palmer.
Air Lituanica CFO Simonas Bartkus said: "We have three years to go to see how the partnership will develop but in general, yes, we are looking forward to a longer partnership with Estonian Air."