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Norse Atlantic announces sharp cuts to winter sun flight routes

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Norse Atlantic had a plan. It would offer low cost flights between London Gatwick and the United States (with easily the best Premium Economy cabin in the sky) during the summer, and then trim schedules in the winter. The aircraft freed up were to be reallocated to ‘winter sun’ routes such as the Caribbean.

It hasn’t worked well so far. As we have covered in multiple articles, Winter 2023 routes from Gatwick were delayed and in some cases cancelled before they even launched.

Norse Atlantic announces sharp cuts to winter sun routes

Norse Atlantic has now announced its 2024/25 winter schedule from Gatwick on its existing ‘sun’ routes. It’s a thin one:

  • Barbados will be cut to one flight per week (currently five)
  • Montego Bay will be cut to one flight per week (currently four)
  • The season will only run from December to March

We understand that there will be new winter routes added later but this is it as far as the Caribbean goes.

What intrigues me is why Norse doesn’t launch Gatwick to Bangkok. Is it a ‘flying rights’ issue? It has Oslo to Bangkok which will operate three times per week in winter 2024.

Gatwick to Bangkok would have minimal competition (neither British Airways or Virgin Atlantic offer it, so you are down to Thai Airways and EVA Air) and the low cost Norwegian operating model seems well suited to the backpacker market.

Eurowings launches Manchester to Hamburg flights

Eurowings launches Manchester to Hamburg flights

Following yesterday’s Edinburgh to Stuttgart announcement, the airline has launched Manchester to Hamburg.

Flights will start on 31st March and operate on Monday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday.

Eurowings is part of Lufthansa, and you can earn and spend Miles & More miles on these flights. Comments under our article yesterday suggested that United and Air Canada miles can also be earned / spent. Eurowings, unlike its parent, is not a broader Star Alliance member.


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Comments (2)

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

  • Alan Bowen says:

    Norse has already reduced this winter’s flying to the Caribbean to one flight a week to both destinations, it is clear they are not picking up bookings at all. The plane and crew remain on the island overnight and return the following evening, a very poor utilisation of the aircraft and the prospects of its survival cannot be great. It announced the cancellation of the summer routes to Boston and Washington last Friday, anyone booking far ahead does so at their own risk!

  • David says:

    I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Norse is at the wrong airport. There are unserved routes at Manchester that would probably pay and are certainly worth investigating. I am assuming that they do some proper, in depth route demand research rather then the guesswork that some Nordic airlines undertake. I know – I’ve worked for them.

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

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