07 May, 2018

April passenger numbers up for Norwegian

Norwegian carried more than three million passengers in April, an increase of 16 percent compared to the same month the previous year. As expected, the figures were affected by Easter which was in March in addition to the launch of new long-haul routes.

A total of3,049,249 passengers chose to fly with Norwegian in April; 411,020 more than the same period last year. The total traffic growth (RPK) increased by 44 percent, while the capacity growth (ASK) increased by 51 percent. The load factor was 83 percent, down 3.6 percentage points. The high capacity growth is primarily due to the company’s long-haul routes, which has more than doubled since April last year.

The March and April figures were influenced by the Easter traffic, as also reported in previous month’s report.

“We have a strong passenger growth this month, despite the effects of the Easter traffic. Our load factor is solid, and the company’s long-haul capacity has grown considerably since the same period last year, with a record high growth of 311 percent outside the Nordics. As a result of the capacity increase we have offered a high volume of low fare tickets to attract new customers, consequently impacting the yield this month,” said CEO of Norwegian, Bjørn Kjos.

Norwegian operated 99.4 percent of the scheduled flights in April, whereof 81.3 percent departed on time.

Norwegian’s fleet renewal program continues with full force in 2018. The company took delivery of one Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner in April. This year in total, Norwegian will take delivery of 11 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, 12 Boeing 737 MAX8 and two Boeing 737-800. With an average age of only 3.6 years, Norwegian’s fleet is one of the world’s “greenest” and most modern.
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So far Norwegian have rejected two "ridiculously" low bids from the parent group of British Airways and Iberia - IAG in the mast month. Yet sources tell us that IAG will be making another far more substantial bid within a month, which could indeed temp the Norwegian board. 

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