The new Estonian airline Marabu has recently seen history being made in Tallinn, as it has now received both its Air Operators Certificate (AOC) as well as the Operating License (OL) in record time.
With these certifications in order, the carrier has started operations from two major cities in Germany, being Hamburg and Munich. It will operate to popular holiday destinations along the Mediterranean Sea, the Canaries and the Red Sea.
Operations are a go
Just a few days ago, history was made in Tallinn, Estonia, as the newest operator Marabu received its Air Operator Certificate and Operating License in record breaking time, with the process taking no more than four months. The company applied for the license in January of this year.
The carrier has officially now started operations to popular holiday destinations, with the latest routes recorded being out of Munich to the Balearics and Canary Islands.
Destinations confirmed have so far been Palma de Mallorca (PMI), Fuerteventura (FUE), Lanzarote (ACE) and Gran Canaria (LPA).
On the AOC and OL handout, Marabu CEO Paul Schwaiger says: “We are extremely grateful to the Estonian authorities for great cooperation that allowed us to establish and set up Marabu in four months,”
Mr. Schwaiger further explains that the experience of establishing and setting up Marabu in Estonia can be characterized by predictably low levels of bureaucracy in the country as well as great cooperation within the airline team.
“I am impressed by how digitalized the Estonian society is and also by how efficiently the Estonian Transport Administration works to support the industry.”
“This is exactly the environment new companies need for starting up,” Mr. Schwaiger added.
Greeting the AOC issue was also the Head of Safety and Supervision Department at the Estonian Transport Administration, Tanel Rautits, who stated:
“We are happy to see that we have a new ambitious airline creating jobs in the field of aviation in Estonia,”
Ready for new heights
With the official approval for operations in order and operations commenced, the airline representatives say they are excited to share the skies together with the greater European brands, as well as taking Estonian aviation to new heights.
Jan Palmer, CEO of Nordic Aviation Group stated the following on the official launch: “There has been little time for Marabu to get everything in place in order to be able to start operating from Munich and Hamburg with the A320neo fleet this upcoming summer.”
“I am both proud and impressed by the competence and team spirit that the staff at Marabu have shown in order to establish a new Estonian airline in record short time,”
Nordic Aviation Group and Marabu previosuly signed a long-term service agreement this year, in which it additionally will be providing other services to the new operator.
The Estonian aviation group was then set to start operating these routes from the beginning of the summer season on an ACMI basis with three Airbus A320neo aircraft, configured in an all economy, 180 seat configuration. As of today, ES-MBU (MSN 6799) remains the only aircraft in Marabu’s fleet.
As of 15 April. the airline officially started operations out of Munich, with the flights connecting Tallinn and Munich starting May 21, and Tallinn – Hamburg on June 16. Leisure flights out of Hamburg are yet to begin.
