Norwegian Air to increase flights from Ireland to Scandinavia

Norwegian Air, which came close to collapse this year, pledged to increase flights from the UK and Ireland to destinations across Scandinavia as the airline released its summer 2022 flying programme on Friday.

In total, across the European network, Norwegian will offer 259 routes from the Nordics in the coming season as travel restrictions and quarantine requirements are eased and demand for flights increases.

It said all flights are now available to book, and it is offering a range of destinations from London, Edinburgh, Manchester and Dublin.

Dublin will serve Oslo and Copenhagen with a total of four weekly flights. London Gatwick will serve Oslo, Stavanger, Trondheim, Bergen, Helsinki, Stockholm and Copenhagen with a total of 115 weekly flights.

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Manchester will serve Oslo, Stavanger, Bergen and Stockholm with a total of eight weekly flights, while Edinburgh will serve Oslo, Stockholm and Copenhagen with a total of 15 weekly flights. Manchester will serve Oslo, Stavanger, Bergen and Stockholm with a total of eight weekly flights, while Edinburgh will serve Oslo, Stockholm and Copenhagen with a total of 15 weekly flights.

Nordic destinations

"We are pleased to be able to present our flying schedule for the next summer season," said Norwegian chief executive Geir Karlsen.

“With this summer schedule we will continue to deliver on our strategy of investing in Norway and the Nordic region. In recent months, we have noticed an increased demand from customers, and we look forward to welcoming them on board to their favourite Nordic destinations.”

The aviation industry has been hit hard by travel restrictions and quarantine requirements as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Norwegian said it expects the increasing vaccination rate will mean that the risk of new travel restrictions will be significantly lower in 2022.

“Norwegian is now well equipped to look ahead to 2022, although we will continue to some extent to be affected by the pandemic as the industry begins to recover,” said Mr Karlsen.

“We have considerable flexibility in the use of our aircraft, and after the restructuring we have lower debt, an adapted fleet and organisation, and we have received new capital.

“It has been a tough time, but the result is that we are stronger now than before the pandemic.”