The COVID-19 pandemic has caused huge problems in the airline industry worldwide, leading to one Norwegian carrier announcing its decision to discontinue long-haul flights.
As a consequence of the pandemic, approximately 2,150 jobs in the UK, Spain, France, and the US will now be permanently lost, following previous furloughs. The carrier has declared that it will cease flying long-haul routes, even when the pandemic situation improves. Instead, it will operate a short-haul European network and focus on domestic Norwegian routes, in alignment with its business survival plan. Moreover, the airline plans to reduce its total fleet to 50 planes, eliminating the Boeing 787 Dreamliners that were previously used for long-haul travel.
The airline’s strategy moving forward aims to prioritize the preservation of Norwegian jobs, as it does not anticipate a recovery in demand for long-haul travel in the near future. According to its chief executive, Jacob Schram, the focus will be on rebuilding a strong, profitable airline to ensure that as many jobs as possible are safeguarded. Additionally, the Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries is engaged in discussions with Norwegian Air regarding potential state involvement in a new business strategy.
“Our short-haul network has always been the backbone of Norwegian and will form the basis of a future resilient business model,” says Schram. “By concentrating our operations on a short-haul network, we aim to attract existing and new investors, serve our customers, and support the broader infrastructure and travel industry in Norway, as well as across the Nordics and Europe.”
