Lennart Meri Tallinn Airport
IATA: TLL · ICAO: EETN · Tallinn, Estonia · Last updated: April 2026
Current Status
Tallinn Airport is fully operational and serves as Estonia's primary international gateway, handling approximately 3.5 million passengers annually. The airport has a single runway (08/26) with ILS CAT III capability, which has proven essential given the persistent GPS interference environment.
Among Baltic capital airports, Tallinn is the most consistently affected by GPS jamming. The interference originates primarily from Russian military installations in the Kaliningrad exclave and, to a lesser extent, from the Pskov region near the Estonian-Russian border. GPS disruption is not continuous but occurs in episodes that can last from hours to weeks, with intensity fluctuating in correlation with geopolitical tensions and Russian military exercises.
Estonian aviation authorities and Tallinn ATC have adapted to this environment by emphasizing conventional navigation procedures. All GPS-based approaches at EETN are published with the caveat that GPS may be unreliable, and crews are expected to be prepared for ILS or VOR approaches as primary. The airport has invested in maintaining and upgrading its ground-based navigation infrastructure specifically because of this threat.
Key Risks
GPS signals at Tallinn are frequently degraded by jamming emanating from the Kaliningrad region, approximately 500 km to the southwest. The jamming affects all satellite navigation services and renders GPS-only approaches unreliable during active interference periods.
RNAV (GPS) approaches at EETN cannot be relied upon during jamming events. This includes RNP approaches and GPS-augmented procedures. Aircraft without operational ILS receivers or VOR capability may face operational limitations.
Jamming intensity correlates with NATO exercises, Russian military drills, and broader geopolitical tensions in the Baltic region. Operators can anticipate increased interference during periods of elevated military activity on either side.
Flights transiting between Tallinn and Helsinki, Stockholm, or Riga may experience GPS loss across a wide corridor. The interference zone extends well beyond Estonian airspace boundaries.
Recent Events
Multi-day GPS jamming episode affected Tallinn, Riga, and Vilnius simultaneously. EETN operated normally using ILS approaches throughout. No diversions or cancellations attributed to jamming.
Estonian Transport Administration published updated guidance for operators on GPS denial procedures at EETN, emphasizing ILS readiness and conventional nav aid requirements.
Extended GPS jamming period coincided with increased Russian military activity. EUROCONTROL issued Baltic region advisory. Tallinn operations continued without interruption.
EASA published Safety Information Bulletin regarding Baltic GPS jamming, specifically referencing Tallinn, Tartu, and Vilnius as most-affected airports. Recommended operator contingency procedures.
Airlines Operating
airBaltic (significant presence), Ryanair, Wizz Air, Finnair, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, SAS, Turkish Airlines, and Nordic Regional Airlines (Norra). airBaltic connects Tallinn to its Riga hub and major European destinations.
Tallinn serves as a Nordic-Baltic gateway, with strong connections to Helsinki, Stockholm, Copenhagen, and the major European hubs. Cruise passenger traffic also contributes seasonal demand.
Approach & Navigation
EETN offers ILS CAT III on runway 08, ILS CAT I on runway 26, and VOR/DME approaches on both directions. The airport is located at 131 feet (40 m) elevation on flat coastal terrain south of Tallinn, presenting no significant terrain obstacles on any approach path.
The airport's investment in CAT III ILS capability is directly related to the GPS jamming environment — it ensures continued operations in low-visibility conditions even when GPS is completely denied. Crews should plan ILS as the primary approach method when operating to Tallinn and verify that ILS receivers are fully serviceable before departure.
Related
This page provides publicly available information about airport conditions. Always consult official sources (ICAO, EASA, FAA) and current NOTAMs for operational decisions.