NyxAir (OJ, Tallinn Lennart Meri) is evaluating options to increase its capacity on the subsidised and increasingly popular domestic Estonian route connecting Tallinn Lennart Meri to Kuressaare, on the island of Saaremaa, public broadcaster ERR has reported.

"At the moment, we don't have any other aircraft to which we can change, but maybe we will come up with something for the summer period because, during the summer, the load factor was actually very good, regardless of the day," Chief Executive Jaanus Ojamets said.

The Estonian carrier currently deploys one of its two ATR42-500s on the route (the other one is currently wet-leased to BRA - Braathens Regional Airways (TF, Trollhättan)). It is already the largest type in NyxAir's fleet and was inducted when the carrier won the Kuressaare PSO contract in late 2020. The airline's fleet also comprises four Saab 2000s, one Saab 340A, two Saab 340Bs, and one Saab 340B(F).

While summer load factors on the route reached 79%, current capacity is already insufficient to cover increased weekend demand.

NyxAir did not respond to ch-aviation's request for comment regarding the types it is interested in.