Reference metadata describe statistical concepts and methodologies used for the collection and generation of data. They provide information on data quality and, since they are strongly content-oriented, assist users in interpreting the data. Reference metadata, unlike structural metadata, can be decoupled from the data.
The statistics on commercial aviation cover scheduled and non-scheduled air traffic. One Community airport, Tallinn/Ülemiste (EETN category 3), supplies all data.
Based on European legal bases the statistics are compiled and transmitted to Eurostat by Statistics Estonia on a monthly basis.
The survey includes all flights with passengers, freight and mail as well as empty leg flights in domestic and international traffic. All data are transmitted by the airport on flight level to CNA by email (not recommended) or using an electronic data transmission tool. In addition to aircraft data (registration, seats, payload, etc.), information on passengers, freight and mail volumes (number, quantity, destination, etc.) are collected.
Three datasets required by the Regulation – A1, B1, C1 – are provided to Eurostat:
Dataset A1:Flight Stage dataset – periodic flight stage data registered for airport-to-airport routes, and broken down by arrivals/departures, scheduled/non-scheduled, passenger service/all-freight and mail service, airline information and aircraft type. The values provided concern passengers on board, freight and mail on board, commercial air flights as well as passenger seats available.
Dataset B1:On Flight Origin/Destination dataset – periodic on flight origin/destination data registered for airport-to-airport routes, and broken down by arrivals/departures, scheduled/non scheduled, passenger service/all-freight and mail service and airline information. The values provided concern passengers carried and freight and mail loaded or unloaded.
Dataset C1:Airport dataset – periodic airport data registered for declaring airports, and broken down by airline information. The values provided concern total passengers carried, total direct transit passengers, total transfer (indirect transit) passengers (optional variable), total freight and mail loaded or unloaded, total commercial aircraft movements and total aircraft movements.Datasets A1, B1 and C1 are provided on a monthly basis.
Airports handling less than 15,000 passenger units annually are not included in the datasets.
Flight stage and on flight origin destination data have been reported since 2004 and airport data since 2001.
Following Regulation (EC) N°1358/2003, the number of passengers includes infants in arms.
3.2. Classification system
Airports are classified according to the ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) airport codes as listed in the ICAO document 7910.
Aircrafts are classified according to aggregated aircraft categories based on the ICAO aircraft codes as listed in the ICAO document 8643.
Airlines are classified according to the ICAO airline codes as listed in the ICAO document 8585. When transmitting the data to Eurostat, the region where the airlines are licensed is coded accordingly either as European Union (EU) or outside the European Union (non-EU).
3.3. Coverage - sector
Air transport – commercial air services and civil aircraft movements for the airports with traffic exceeding 1,500,000 passenger units annually. There are no airports with more than 150,000 and less than 1,500,000 passenger units in Estonia.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
The main concepts used in this domain are the following:
Community airport - adefined area on land or water in a Member State subject to the provisions of the treaty, which is intended to be used either wholly or in part for the arrival, departure and surface movement of aircraft and open for commercial air services.
Flight stage - the operation of an aircraft from take-off to its next landing. This is linked to the definition of passengers (or freight and mail) on board.
Passengers on board - all passengers on board of the aircraft upon landing at the reporting airport or at taking off from the reporting airport. All revenue and non-revenue passengers on board an aircraft during a flight stage. Includes direct transit passengers (counted at arrivals and departures).
Direct transit passengers - passengers who, after a short stop, continue their journey on the same aircraft on a flight having the same flight number as the flight on which they arrive.
Transfer of indirect transit passengers - passengers arriving and departing on a different aircraft within 24 hours, or on the same aircraft bearing different flight numbers. They are counted twice: once upon arrival and once on departure.
Freight and mail on board - all freight and mail on board of the aircraft upon landing at the reporting airport or at taking off from the reporting airport. All freight and mail on board an aircraft during a flight stage. Includes direct transit freight and mail (counted at arrivals and departures). Includes express services and diplomatic bags. Excludes passenger baggage.
On flight origin and destination - traffic on a commercial air service identified by a unique flight number subdivided by airport pairs in accordance with point of embarkation and point of disembarkation on that flight. For passengers, freight or mail where the airport of embarkation is not known, the aircraft origin should be deemed to be the point of embarkation; similarly, if the airport of disembarkation is not known, the aircraft destination should be deemed to be the point of disembarkation. This is linked to the definition of passengers carried and freight and mail loaded or unloaded.
Passengers carried - all passengers on a specific flight (with one flight number) counted once only and not repeatedly on each individual stage of that flight. All revenue and non-revenue passengers whose journey begins or terminates at the reporting airport and transfer passengers joining or leaving the flight at the reporting airport. Excludes direct transit passengers.
Freight and mail loaded or unloaded - all freight and mail loaded onto or unloaded from an aircraft. Includes express services and diplomatic bags. Excludes passenger baggage. Excludes direct transit freight and mail.
Passenger unit - one passenger unit is equivalent to either one passenger or 100 kilograms of freight and mail.
3.5. Statistical unit
The data are collected at individual airport level.
3.6. Statistical population
Four categories of Community airports are defined by the Regulation (EC) N°1358/2003:
Category "0": Airports with less than 15,000 passenger units per year are considered as having only "occasional commercial traffic" without obligation to report.
Category "1": Airports with between 15,000 and 150,000 passenger units per year shall transmit only aggregated airport data (Dataset C).
Category "2": Airports with more than 150,000 passenger units and less than 1,500,000 passenger units per year shall transmit flight stage data, on flight origin destination data as well as aggregated airport data (Datasets A, B and C).
Category "3": Airports with at least 1,500,000 passenger units per year shall transmit flight stage data, on flight origin destination data as well as aggregated airport data (Datasets A, B and C).
The list of reporting airports by country with categories as from 2003 onwards is available in the avia_esms metadata file in the Annex section.
Airports under category "0" are not included in the statistics provided to Eurostat.
3.7. Reference area
International airports located on the territory of Estonia
3.8. Coverage - Time
Flight stage and on flight origin destination data have been reported since 2004 and airport data since 2001. Transfer passengers data (monthly) are available from July 2013, direct transit passengers data from 2004 for the Tallinn Lennart Meri Airport.
3.9. Base period
Not applicable
The units used depend on the variables collected within each dataset and these are: number of passengers, kilogrammes (for freight and mail), aircraft movements and passenger seats available.
According to the legal act the weight of freight and mail is transmitted in tonnes with three decimal places.
Data are collected on a monthly basis for the purpose of datasets A1 and B1 and on an annual basis for the purpose of dataset C1.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
National level:
Official Statistics Act. Passed 10 June 2010. RT I 2010, 41, 241. Entry into force 1 August 2010 (Official Statistics Act)
European level: until 2002, the data were provided to Eurostat on a voluntary basis; since 2002, data provision is based on an EP and Council framework legal act and on several implementing Commission Regulations:
Official Statistics Act. Passed 10 June 2010. RT I 2010, 41, 241. Entry into force 1 August 2010. The dissemination of data collected for the purpose of producing official statistics is guided by the requirements provided for in §§ 32, 34, 35 and 38 of the Official Statistics Act (Official Statistics Act)
European level:
Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 on European statistics (recital 24 and Article 20(4)) of 11 March 2009 (OJ L 87, p. 164) stipulates the need to establish common principles and guidelines ensuring the confidentiality of data used for the production of European statistics and the access to those confidential data with due account for technical developments and the requirements of users in a democratic society
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
Data confidentiality issues:
The dissemination of data collected for the production of official statistics is based on the requirements laid down in §§ 34 and 35 of the Official Statistics Act.
The data provided to Eurostat in the datasets A1, B1 and C1 may contain confidential information.
8.1. Release calendar
Notifications about the dissemination of statistics are published in the release calendar, which is available on the website. Every year on 1 October, the release times of the statistical database, news releases, main indicators by IMF SDDS and publications for the following year are announced in the release calendar (in the case of publications – the release month).
All users have been granted equal access to official statistics: dissemination dates of official statistics are announced in advance and no user category is provided access to official statistics before other users. Official statistics are first published in the statistical database. Official statistics are available on the website at 8.00 a.m. on the date announced in the release calendar.
Air transport statistics are published monthly 90 days (three months) after the end of the reference month, being preliminary until publishing the annual results.
Dedicated meta information (definitions, comments, methods, quality) on air transport statistics is available at national level: Statistics Estonia - Air transport.
11.1. Quality assurance
To assure the quality of processes and products, Statistics Estonia applies the EFQM Excellence Model, the European Statistics Code of Practice and the Quality Assurance Framework of the European Statistical System (ESS QAF). Statistics Estonia is also guided by the requirements in § 7 "Principles and quality criteria of producing official statistics" of the Official Statistics Act.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
Statistics Estonia performs all statistical activities according to an international model (Generic Statistical Business Process Model – GSBPM). According to the GSBPM, the final phase of statistical activities is overall evaluation using information gathered in each phase or sub-process; this information can take many forms, including feedback from users, process metadata, system metrics and suggestions from employees. This information is used to prepare the evaluation report, which outlines all the quality problems related to the specific statistical activity and serves as input for improvement actions.
Implementation and compliance with the SDMX standards:
From 2013, data are transmitted to Eurostat in SDMX format.
Estonia does not use the SDMX standard for data exchanges with their data providers.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
The Estonian Ministry of Climate.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
Since 1996, Statistics Estonia has conducted reputation and user satisfaction surveys. All results are available on Statistics Estonia's website in the section User surveys.
12.3. Completeness
In compliance with the rules (regulations). The data collection on air transport statistics follows the provisions of the Regulation 437/2003. All variables in all three datasets are provided, including the voluntary variable – transfer passenger.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
The type of survey and the data collection methods ensure sufficient coverage and timeliness. The processing with several checks as well as checks done before transmitting data to Eurostat ensures a high accuracy of the data.
13.2. Sampling error
Not applicable for air transport data collection
13.3. Non-sampling error
Errors occur in the received data mainly due to using the wrong codes (codes not in the code lists). These errors are quite reliably removed during processing.
14.1. Timeliness
The monthly data (datasets A1, B1 and C1) are transmitted to EUROSTAT on a monthly basis, three months after the end of the first reference period (T + 3 months).
14.2. Punctuality
All the statistics required by the provisions of the Regulation 437/2003 are available two months before the deadline for the data provisions set up in the legal act.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
The data are comparable with data of other European Union countries because a common methodology has been used for transport statistics.
15.2. Comparability - over time
The data are comparable over time because a common methodology has been used. The detailed information on eventual breaks in the time series is provided in the Country Specific Notes (CSNs) available at Eurostat's metadata page (in Annex part).
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
Comparisons with other transport statistics are only partially and to a limited extent possible with regard to freight transport and passenger transport since data are currently not available or are not collected at the same level of detail and also due to different methods and underlying objectives.
15.4. Coherence - internal
The data are made internally coherent by using a common methodology in data collection and the same rules of data aggregation.
The response burden is placed on the airports, but it is reduced to a minimum – it is possible to provide the data automatically using an electronic data transmission tool (eSTAT) and the data providers are only contacted if errors cannot be solved by the NSI. As data are collected by individual flights, the amount of data is large, so it is possible to upload data as a file for transfer via eSTAT to Statistics Estonia.
Total time of filling in reports of the statistical activity, working days: 2
Average time of filling in the reports, hours per report: 1.3
The published data may be revised if the methodology is modified, errors are discovered, new or better data become available.
18.1. Source data
One Community airport, Tallinn/Ülemiste (EETN), supplies all data.
The airport is the source of the following information:
Aircraft movement
Date
Partner airport
Type of flight
Type of journey
Type of airplane
Number of seats
Air carrier
Number of passenger on commercial flights
Number of passengers in transit
Mail transported on commercial flights
Goods transported on commercial flights
Direct transit – number of passengers
All data are transmitted by airport on flight level with information on aircraft types.
The airway bill is not used as an information source at EETN and therefore trucked cargo is not included in supplied data.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Information needed for the datasets A1, B1 and C1 are collected monthly by flight.
18.3. Data collection
Data are collected and the submission of questionnaires is monitored through eSTAT (the web channel for electronic data submission). The questionnaires have been designed for independent completion in eSTAT and include instructions and controls. The questionnaires and information about data submission are available on Statistics Estonia’s website at Air traffic 2024. month. Data are collected with the quarterly official statistics questionnaire "Air traffic".
18.4. Data validation
Arithmetic and qualitative controls are used in the validation process, including comparison with code lists used by Eurostat (DSD).
There are main validation rules implemented into the national data production toolbox VAIS. After validating the data, the required corrections are made manually or automatically. If necessary, the data providers are involved in the data correction process.
18.5. Data compilation
Microdata are aggregated to the level necessary for analysis. This includes aggregating the data according to the classification, and calculating various statistical measures.
The collected data are converted into statistical output. This includes calculating additional indicators.
After various plausibility checks, the data received from the airports are compiled into monthly data following the structure of the datasets which are preset by regulation (EC) 437/2003.
18.6. Adjustment
Not applicable for air transport data collection
Since 2024, the data are collected on a monthly basis (until 2024, the data were collected on a quarterly basis); the data are transmitted to Eurostat three months after the end of the reference period (T + 3 months).
The statistics on commercial aviation cover scheduled and non-scheduled air traffic. One Community airport, Tallinn/Ülemiste (EETN category 3), supplies all data.
Based on European legal bases the statistics are compiled and transmitted to Eurostat by Statistics Estonia on a monthly basis.
The survey includes all flights with passengers, freight and mail as well as empty leg flights in domestic and international traffic. All data are transmitted by the airport on flight level to CNA by email (not recommended) or using an electronic data transmission tool. In addition to aircraft data (registration, seats, payload, etc.), information on passengers, freight and mail volumes (number, quantity, destination, etc.) are collected.
Three datasets required by the Regulation – A1, B1, C1 – are provided to Eurostat:
Dataset A1:Flight Stage dataset – periodic flight stage data registered for airport-to-airport routes, and broken down by arrivals/departures, scheduled/non-scheduled, passenger service/all-freight and mail service, airline information and aircraft type. The values provided concern passengers on board, freight and mail on board, commercial air flights as well as passenger seats available.
Dataset B1:On Flight Origin/Destination dataset – periodic on flight origin/destination data registered for airport-to-airport routes, and broken down by arrivals/departures, scheduled/non scheduled, passenger service/all-freight and mail service and airline information. The values provided concern passengers carried and freight and mail loaded or unloaded.
Dataset C1:Airport dataset – periodic airport data registered for declaring airports, and broken down by airline information. The values provided concern total passengers carried, total direct transit passengers, total transfer (indirect transit) passengers (optional variable), total freight and mail loaded or unloaded, total commercial aircraft movements and total aircraft movements.Datasets A1, B1 and C1 are provided on a monthly basis.
Airports handling less than 15,000 passenger units annually are not included in the datasets.
Flight stage and on flight origin destination data have been reported since 2004 and airport data since 2001.
Following Regulation (EC) N°1358/2003, the number of passengers includes infants in arms.
1 August 2025
The main concepts used in this domain are the following:
Community airport - adefined area on land or water in a Member State subject to the provisions of the treaty, which is intended to be used either wholly or in part for the arrival, departure and surface movement of aircraft and open for commercial air services.
Flight stage - the operation of an aircraft from take-off to its next landing. This is linked to the definition of passengers (or freight and mail) on board.
Passengers on board - all passengers on board of the aircraft upon landing at the reporting airport or at taking off from the reporting airport. All revenue and non-revenue passengers on board an aircraft during a flight stage. Includes direct transit passengers (counted at arrivals and departures).
Direct transit passengers - passengers who, after a short stop, continue their journey on the same aircraft on a flight having the same flight number as the flight on which they arrive.
Transfer of indirect transit passengers - passengers arriving and departing on a different aircraft within 24 hours, or on the same aircraft bearing different flight numbers. They are counted twice: once upon arrival and once on departure.
Freight and mail on board - all freight and mail on board of the aircraft upon landing at the reporting airport or at taking off from the reporting airport. All freight and mail on board an aircraft during a flight stage. Includes direct transit freight and mail (counted at arrivals and departures). Includes express services and diplomatic bags. Excludes passenger baggage.
On flight origin and destination - traffic on a commercial air service identified by a unique flight number subdivided by airport pairs in accordance with point of embarkation and point of disembarkation on that flight. For passengers, freight or mail where the airport of embarkation is not known, the aircraft origin should be deemed to be the point of embarkation; similarly, if the airport of disembarkation is not known, the aircraft destination should be deemed to be the point of disembarkation. This is linked to the definition of passengers carried and freight and mail loaded or unloaded.
Passengers carried - all passengers on a specific flight (with one flight number) counted once only and not repeatedly on each individual stage of that flight. All revenue and non-revenue passengers whose journey begins or terminates at the reporting airport and transfer passengers joining or leaving the flight at the reporting airport. Excludes direct transit passengers.
Freight and mail loaded or unloaded - all freight and mail loaded onto or unloaded from an aircraft. Includes express services and diplomatic bags. Excludes passenger baggage. Excludes direct transit freight and mail.
Passenger unit - one passenger unit is equivalent to either one passenger or 100 kilograms of freight and mail.
The data are collected at individual airport level.
Four categories of Community airports are defined by the Regulation (EC) N°1358/2003:
Category "0": Airports with less than 15,000 passenger units per year are considered as having only "occasional commercial traffic" without obligation to report.
Category "1": Airports with between 15,000 and 150,000 passenger units per year shall transmit only aggregated airport data (Dataset C).
Category "2": Airports with more than 150,000 passenger units and less than 1,500,000 passenger units per year shall transmit flight stage data, on flight origin destination data as well as aggregated airport data (Datasets A, B and C).
Category "3": Airports with at least 1,500,000 passenger units per year shall transmit flight stage data, on flight origin destination data as well as aggregated airport data (Datasets A, B and C).
The list of reporting airports by country with categories as from 2003 onwards is available in the avia_esms metadata file in the Annex section.
Airports under category "0" are not included in the statistics provided to Eurostat.
International airports located on the territory of Estonia
Data are collected on a monthly basis for the purpose of datasets A1 and B1 and on an annual basis for the purpose of dataset C1.
The type of survey and the data collection methods ensure sufficient coverage and timeliness. The processing with several checks as well as checks done before transmitting data to Eurostat ensures a high accuracy of the data.
The units used depend on the variables collected within each dataset and these are: number of passengers, kilogrammes (for freight and mail), aircraft movements and passenger seats available.
According to the legal act the weight of freight and mail is transmitted in tonnes with three decimal places.
Microdata are aggregated to the level necessary for analysis. This includes aggregating the data according to the classification, and calculating various statistical measures.
The collected data are converted into statistical output. This includes calculating additional indicators.
After various plausibility checks, the data received from the airports are compiled into monthly data following the structure of the datasets which are preset by regulation (EC) 437/2003.
One Community airport, Tallinn/Ülemiste (EETN), supplies all data.
The airport is the source of the following information:
Aircraft movement
Date
Partner airport
Type of flight
Type of journey
Type of airplane
Number of seats
Air carrier
Number of passenger on commercial flights
Number of passengers in transit
Mail transported on commercial flights
Goods transported on commercial flights
Direct transit – number of passengers
All data are transmitted by airport on flight level with information on aircraft types.
The airway bill is not used as an information source at EETN and therefore trucked cargo is not included in supplied data.
Air transport statistics are published monthly 90 days (three months) after the end of the reference month, being preliminary until publishing the annual results.
The monthly data (datasets A1, B1 and C1) are transmitted to EUROSTAT on a monthly basis, three months after the end of the first reference period (T + 3 months).
The data are comparable with data of other European Union countries because a common methodology has been used for transport statistics.
The data are comparable over time because a common methodology has been used. The detailed information on eventual breaks in the time series is provided in the Country Specific Notes (CSNs) available at Eurostat's metadata page (in Annex part).
