Anew publicly funded flag carrier has been launched in Europe. Air Lituanica commenced scheduled operations on June 30 with a six-times-per-week service from its base in Vilnius to Brussels. A second route, to Amsterdam, started one week later, and a four-times-per-week service to Berlin Tegel is to follow in August. The operator's business plan forecasts a fleet of five Embraer E-Jets and 13-16 destinations in 2015, by when it aims to break even and carry 600,000-700,000 passengers. Still. One has to ask if the turbulent European market needs another flag carrier and if this is the best use of taxpayers' money. Air Lituanica has a start-up capital of €6 million ($7.8 million), and 83% of the shares are owned by the city of Vilnius.
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