TALLINN — Lennart Meri Tallinn Airport managed to earn a €400,100 profit last year, but only by reducing salaries and cutting jobs.

Minister of Economic Affairs Juhan Parts approved last year’s economic report of Tallinn Airport’s finances with 6.26 million krooni (€400,100) profit on Tuesday. However, the ministry admits that instead of from increasing traffic, the profit was earned only thanks to reducing the company’s expenses by 25 percent and increasing non-aeronautical revenue.

Tallinn Airport reduced the salaries by 22 percent, and 10 percent of the staff were cut and Riga replaced Helsinki as the top destination, reflecting airBaltic’s expansion. Overall, Tallinn served 1,346,236 passengers last year, 25.7 percent less than in 2008.

Ryanair interested in Tallinn

Ryanair has been approaching the Estonian Ministry of Economy and Communications for several years, the last occasion being in March, asking the ministry to reduce the airport taxes for Ryanair passengers and cut the airport tax after the 950,000th passenger. The carrier boasted that it would bring 1.5 million passengers to Tallinn annually. If Ryanair and Tallinn Airport will come to an agreement, the Airport could double the number of passengers.