Economic crisis proves too much for Copterline
19.12.2008, 11:37 Finnish helicopter company Copterline will
end regular helicopter services between Helsinki and Tallinn as of today.
Postimees writes that personnel working with scheduled Helsinki-Tallinn
services would be laid off.
According to CEO Kaj Takolander, the demand for the route that was re-opened
in April was about 50 percent lower than what was necessary to make it
profitable.
However, Takolander added that flights on the route could be resumed if
Copterline finds a partner to share costs.
At best Copterline made 14 round trips between Tallinn and Helsinki. The trip
took 18 minutes, and the helicopter carried 12 passengers on each flight.
On August 10, 2005 a Sikorsky S-76 crashed into the sea near Tallinn three to
four minutes after taking off. The craft was carrying 14 people, all of whom
were killed. The disaster was caused by the failure of the power steering system
of the American-built helicopter. According to Estonian authorities, no distress
signals of any kind were received.