Norwegian: "Domestic air travel has entered a vicious circle"

Sweden has fallen from Norwegian’s second-largest to its third-largest market after Denmark overtook it. On the other hand, the Norwegians have acquired the travel group NLTG and are awaiting swift approval from the EU. The plan is then to also list the shares in Stockholm.

Charlotte Holmbergh also compared the situation with Norway when describing developments in aviation in recent years:

- Arlanda has lost ground to Kastrup, and domestic air travel has entered a vicious circle. Fewer people fly, leading to higher prices and further reduced demand. In Norway, aviation is seen as important, but here it is not regarded as critical infrastructure.

To reverse the trend, three measures are primarily needed, she said:

- Mode-neutral travel policies, increased use of SAF with government support to combat flight shame, and absolutely no new taxes.

Norwegian has chosen to retain a base at Skavsta, which is a small and efficient airport:

- From Skavsta, we attract customers from Norrköping, Linköping and Örebro. This winter, we are launching a route between Skavsta and Las Palmas. And in a number of years, the East Link will enable Stockholm residents to reach Skavsta quickly by train.

Charlotte Holmbergh sees the acquisition of NLTG as a perfect investment:

- During the winter season, when fewer people fly with Norwegian, we can operate more charter services and create synergies. We can also create more tailored solutions for our customers.

In Norway, Widerøe has a well-developed network serving the country’s 49 airports.

- It works rather like a bus route, with people getting on and off. The question of starting domestic flights in Sweden is being discussed.