Norwegian Air Shuttle

[jfy1999]

What's the D8 code for? Is it the code used by their UK branch or are they just changing?

 

[Ray Finkle]

D8 is the code for 'Norwegian Air International' is the long haul subsidiary of Norwegian Air Shuttle. I can't remember the in and outs of it but I believe it has something to do with the ongoing saga they are having in the US.

The LGW services will change in October and the Spanish flights and those from HEL will change in March.

 

[jfy1999]

Could that help streamline potential long haul routes into BHX? Mr Kehoe seems optimistic enough as it is.

I'm still unsure why the Norwegian international planes are registered in Ireland as I don't believe they fly there.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Could that help streamline potential long haul routes into BHX? Mr Kehoe seems optimistic enough as it is.

Possibly in the future but we don't even know if BHX will become a base yet. At the moment it's the Spanish flights that are having the new code so BHX will see them by default.

I'm still unsure why the Norwegian international planes are registered in Ireland as I don't believe they fly there.

I think the main reason is that Norway isn't an EU member state but there has been lots of claims and counter claims over the years. Have a read of the link below for more info :smile:

http://media.norwegian.com/en/#/pressre ... -eu-960681

 

[jfy1999]

I believe that Friday may be seeing four daily flights to Malaga, Barcelona, Las Palmas and Tenerife next summer as things stand, and possibly five if Madrid is moved?

Would this be correct as things stand?

 

[Ray Finkle]

It's impossible to say at the moment as LPA, TFS and BCN aren't bookable past March.

 

[Ray Finkle]

On Facebook Norwegian have a picture of their crew in Florida before a flight to LGW, so I thought I'd ask about BHX.

I'm not sure if their reply is BHX specific or just general???

Make of it what you will :smile:

Me: Any possibility of BHX to Orlando for Summer '16?

Norwegian: We don't have any information about this route yet, have to see what
headquarters has up their sleeve, a lot of expansion plans.

 

[Brum X]

Gotta say i like facebook for stuff like this and you know that you are talking to somebody who works for the airline.

I made a similar comment on saturday about the new LGW-Boston and requested that they dont repeat BA and only operate long haul from London airports (I think you liked my post Ray, he he he)

They didnt reply to mine but they have in the past.

 

[nwoody2001]

lord this is tantalizing....

 

[jfy1999]

We need a base first. A lot of "expansion plans" is a tasty morsel to say the least?

But suppose it were to start, what frequencies and which days would be ideal so that it can compete effectively with Thomson's Sanford?

 

[Kevin Farnell]

We need a base first. A lot of "expansion plans" is a tasty morsel to say the least?
But suppose it were to start, what frequencies and which days would be ideal so that it can compete effectively with Thomson's Sanford?

Much as I'd love to see a base established, would this be necessary for a long haul route from BHX?
Could a low frequency (initially) service on a ‘W’ rotation from somewhere like LGW work?
I remember many years ago, a Britannia airways Cessna (I think a Golden Eagle, but not really sure) would arrive around the same time as a B767, to swap crews.
Is LGW close enough to allow this sort of operation?
Just a thought.
Kevin

 

[Ray Finkle]

I don't see why that wouldn't work especially seeing as they have a crew base in Florida.

The Norwegian CEO has said they want long haul out of Paris soon, likely next year, with Barcelona and Rome also under consideration but it's lack of aircraft holding them back. It appears as if there is stiff competition out there.

 

[Brum X]

Dunno how accurate this info is however somebody with contacts at Norweigan are suggesting a base announcement before the winter season with a start date of April 2016.

x 2 based aircraft

99% certain

FAO/IBZ/PMI/ALC/SPU/NCE some of the destinations.




Oooooooh its getting warmer folks, i can feel it. :hatsoff:

 

[Ash]

Fantastic development if it comes through, and rumours about Norwegian at BHX have an uncanny tendency of coming true...

 

[Kevin Farnell]

Dunno how accurate this info is however somebody with contacts at Norweigan are suggesting a base announcement before the winter season with a start date of April 2016.

x 2 based aircraft

99% certain

FAO/IBZ/PMI/ALC/SPU/NCE some of the destinations.

Oooooooh its getting warmer folks, i can feel it. :hatsoff:

Probably the same post that I read.
A base is a big commitment, hopefully indicating confidence in BHX and further investment in the future.
I'll be following this with interest.

Kevin

 

[Ray Finkle]

Exciting stuff, lets hope that their contact is reliable and we hear something soon :good:

 

[jfy1999]

If that is true then I think Norwegian's strategy is starting to fall into place - directly competing with our based airlines.

I'm not going to complain about them not trying any new routes, though, as they've shown fantastic commitment to us thus far.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Too much competition can be a bad thing, yields can be destroyed and it can eventually lead to airlines pulling out. For a few years EMA has outdone BHX on a regular basis when it comes to the sun routes but despite the numbers the yields couldn't have been great as Monarch eventually closed their EMA base.

That said if those are the routes being panned then I don't think there will be a problem. The likes of Palma, Ibiza, Faro etc should be fine to have a bit more capacity and Norwegian tend to come in with low frequencies. Split would be a good choice, we haven't got a service this year as Monarch dropped it. Thomson will serve there again next year so maybe there is a chance for Norwegian to sell seats for them?

Whether that list of routes is accurate or not remains to be seen but if it is then I'm surprised that FUE and ACE aren't amongst them along with OSL and/or ARN to connect to their network?

 

[jfy1999]

He did just say those were some of the routes likely to be started, not all. So there may be a couple of others lurking back there.

Nice is one of several good-looking routes that only have one airline serving them. I'd love to see any sort of expansion, to those destinations he suggested, or elsewhere.

And Norwegian seem to do fine on all the sun routes from LGW, even though they're competing with Easyjet as well as the others.

 

[Jon Dempsey]

And Norwegian seem to do fine on all the sun routes from LGW, even though they're competing with Easyjet as well as the others.

There is a vast difference between the Gtr Birmingham & Gtr London markets. No. 1 being size. No. 2 being people in the midlands seem to have fixed holiday plans, rather than taking the quick weekend away - although I reckon this is changing.

IMO, if Norwegian were looking to offer a range of destinations, they would firstly look at IT routes with a perceived demand not being served at the moment. This could cover their costs. Secondly assess the independent traveller market (Malaga, Las Palmas, Alicante........) to make the cream.

(Unlike FlyMayBe who seem to stick a pin in a map when deciding on routes to open up)