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Norwegian Air part 1: a second UK long haul base at Edinburgh. Matches Virgin on Gatwick-US seats.

9-Jan-2017

Norwegian's plans to add Edinburgh to its long haul bases are a further indication of its constantly evolving strategic development. Driven mainly by long haul, Norwegian returned to strong growth in 2016 after a respite in 2015. Norwegian's 2017 expansion plans will make the LCC Scandinavia's largest airline by passenger numbers, ahead of the legacy airline rival SAS.

The UK is Norwegian's biggest European long haul market outside Scandinavia. This has so far been based entirely on its network at London Gatwick, where its weekly seat capacity to the US now equals that of the market leader Virgin Atlantic. However, Norwegian is looking beyond Gatwick and will add trans-Atlantic routes from Edinburgh in 2017, for the first time deploying a narrowbody (Boeing 737MAX-8) on its long haul network. It has yet to announce the US destinations from the Scottish capital, and also plans to fly to the US from other UK cities.

This report considers Norwegian's Edinburgh long haul plans in the context of its existing UK operations. Part 2 looks at Norwegian's use of narrowbodies for long haul and the application by its UK subsidiary for a US permit. Part 2 also touches on the financial impact of Norwegian's rapid growth. [1580 words]

Unlock the following content in this report:

Subheadings:

  • Norwegian drew level with SAS on passenger numbers in 2016…
  • …with growth and load factor gain driven by long haul expansion
  • Norwegian has UK growth ambitions, including flights from Edinburgh to the US
  • Gatwick still dominates Norwegian's UK operation
  • Norwegian now level with Virgin Atlantic on Gatwick-US routes
  • Edinburgh: Norwegian's number two UK airport
  • Several possible US destinations for Norwegian from Edinburgh
  • United is current leading airline on Edinburgh-US
  • Part 2: narrowbody long haul; UK to non-US long haul; the role of NUK; Norwegian's growing debt

Graphs and data:

  • Norwegian Air Shuttle ASA: annual ASK (million, left hand axis) and passenger load factor (%, right hand axis), 2005 to 2016
  • London Gatwick Airport: airlines by share of international seats, week of 29-May-2017
  • London Gatwick Airport to United States of America (seats per week, one way): 19-Sep-2011 to 29-May-2017
  • Edinburgh Airport to United States of America (seats per week, one way): 12-Mar-2012 to 29-May-2017
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