Call for tenders launched for Savonlinna air services until the end of 2025

The costs of the procurement will be borne by the City of Savonlinna and the State of Finland. The state participates in the procurement each year by bearing 50 per cent of the costs, up to a million euros. The primary aim of the procurement of scheduled air services is to ensure the transport connections necessary for the trade and industry of Savonlinna.

“Regular air services between Savonlinna and Helsinki ensure good operating conditions particularly for industry in Savonlinna, which is showing strong growth, and enable the development of international charter operations for tourism in the Saimaa region,” says Juha Turtiainen, acting director of economic development at the City of Savonlinna.

The public tender procedure concerns one daily round-trip service between Savonlinna and Helsinki on working days with the exception of Tuesdays and Thursdays, for which two round-trip services are required. The operation of air services is set to commence at the earliest on 9 October 2023 and will last until 19 December 2025. The call for tenders will end on 12 July 2023.

Call for tenders open to all EU air carriers

Traficom has imposed a public service obligation on the route, setting minimum standards for the air carriers participating in the tender procedure. Tenders can be submitted by all air carriers that are established in the EU and meet the minimum criteria of the call.

In the call for tenders, Traficom and Savonlinna have determined maximum ticket prices and defined certain responsibilities for air carriers to ensure smooth travel chains. A one-way ticket may cost at the most EUR 150, a round-trip ticket EUR 220. The passenger capacity of flights must be at least 21 seats.