Big Aviation Summit Pits Airlines and Airports in Tense Negotiations
Over 800 decisionmakers in European aviation are gathered in Tallinn today for Routes Europe, an aviation summit that will plant the seed for many of the new air routes to be opened on the continent in the next few years. The event is also a chance for Estonia, long perceived as underserved by direct flights, to do a bit of lobbying.
Hosting the summit, organized by the British company UBM Aviation, is itself an honor for Tallinn, local main organizer Tallinn Airport officials noted - arguably a testament to conference tourism infrastructure rather than the size of the now fully up-to-date international airport.
Two themes have historically emanated from coverage of Estonia, say airport officials. "One is that we're very diligent, very rapidly evolving, leading the way in progress indexes," ERR radio quoted Tallinn Airport board member Erik Sakkov as saying.
The other is that Estonia has poor flight connections. "Our people have difficulty getting away and getting back. If an investment failed to happen because it took three days to arrive in Tallinn, this is something we must fix."
The summit takes the format of a very intense series of negotiations. Sakkov described it as the airlines sitting on one side and the airports taking turns on the other side of the table, based on previously agreed arrangements.
"Not everyone gets to meet. For a small airport, this is the only chance to talk to some big airline. The meeting lasts 20 minutes, then five minutes of time out and then the next, for two days in a row."
Later the decisions are made. Sakkov said Tallinn Airport is putting forward much information. "Everything is planned out, right down to their future airfare price. To say nothing of market forecasts, possible passengers from connecting flights. We feed them all that information - basically saying have a look at how promising we are," Sakkov said.
Routes Europe 2012 is being attended by EC Transport Commissioner Siim Kallas. It is said by organizers to be the second-largest rotating event hosted in Estonia.
Kristopher Rikken