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Old 6th Feb 2008, 14:07
  #1027 (permalink)  
WHBM
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
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Finland

We have discussed this one elsewhere. Tampere is a poor substitute for the majority of the Finnish market.

Helsinki seems to have effectively resisted the main low cost carriers, I am surprised the politicians and the public have tolerated such a shut-out by the established interests.

I still feel Lappeenranta, right on the Russian border at the nearest point to St Petersburg (about 2-3 hours drive away) is a classic Ryanair opportunity. Big runway, lost their remaining scheduled service (a Saab 340 hop to Helsinki) this year so no vested interests. St Petersburg population is 5.5 million, a huge underserved market both inbound and outbound. A notable number of Ryanair's pax from Tampere actually drive all the way from Russia (takes all day), which they must have noticed. Not too far from Helsinki either.
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