A year after Routes Europe in Bergen, airport operator Avinor’s recovery is being fueled by inbound leisure travel
By DAVID CASEY
With traffic reaching 85% of pre-pandemic levels in the first quarter of 2023, Norway's state-owned airports operator Avinor remains optimistic about the upcoming peak summer season and expects a full market recovery next year.
Inbound leisure travel is anticipated to be the primary catalyst for future growth, driven by the return of tourists from North America and Asia, and the growing demand for Arctic tourism during the winter months.
Martin Langaas, senior director of route development, believes that the devaluation of the Norwegian kroner is also making Norway more attractive for a wider range of international travelers as traditionally expensive offerings become more affordable.
“As airlines increasingly shift their focus towards the leisure market due to reduced demand from business travelers, we become more relevant,” he said. “Being a high-end destination, passengers considering a trip to Norway are also attractive to many airlines that rely on business traffic.”
Avinor, responsible for managing 43 airports nationwide, including Bergen (BGO) and Oslo (OSL), recorded more than 10.4 million passengers during the first quarter of the year, marking a 41% year-on-year increase. Domestic traffic has performed better than international travel, reaching 90% of 2019 levels, while international passenger traffic stands at 83%.
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New international routes for the summer season include Norwegian’s flights to Bucharest, Milan Bergamo, Porto, Skopje and Sofia from Oslo, while Widerøe is adding service from Bergen to Dublin. Eurowings, Croatia Airlines and Transavia France are also expanding their networks in Norway.
Additionally, Langaas highlighted that Air Premia will begin flying to Oslo from May 11, restoring a link between Norway and South Korea for the first time in almost five years. The charter operations from Seoul Incheon will be operated weekly using Boeing 787-9s until Aug. 17, primarily catering to South Korean tourists.
Although this route will be Norway’s sole nonstop connection to Asia for the summer, as Hainan Airlines, Pakistan Airlines International and Thai Airways International have yet to resume their pre-pandemic services, Avinor has received “positive signals” indicating their strong interest in returning to Norway. For the 2023/24 winter season, Norse Atlantic Airways has also scheduled the launch of its first flights to Asia, linking Oslo and Bangkok. The route will operate twice a week from Nov. 2.
“When it comes to Asia, our situation is a bit more challenging compared to some of our competitors that have hub operators,” Langaas said. “Many Asian tourists typically spend 14 days in Scandinavia, with two-thirds of their itinerary dedicated to exploring Norway, but they arrive here via Copenhagen, Helsinki or Stockholm.”
He explained that Avinor’s primary growth strategy in the Asian market therefore revolves around charter flights where it can minimize risks by securing commitments from tour operators. “We have had very positive experiences in this regard, not only for long-haul flights but also for short-haul ones,” Langaas added. India, China, and Singapore are key targets.
In the North American market, Norse Atlantic Airways has launched nonstop routes from Oslo to Fort Lauderdale, Los Angeles and New York JFK, replacing a void left by Norwegian’s exit from long-haul flying, while SAS Scandinavian Airlines serves Miami and Newark. The likes of SAS, KLM, Lufthansa and Air France also offer one-stop connections.
However, given Norway is an inbound market, Langaas said that securing a North American carrier remains a top priority. “Our US traffic relies on Americans visiting Norway—therefore any capacity increase is significant for us, but the most important would undoubtedly be provided by North American carriers,” he said.
Langaas highlighted that the introduction of the Airbus A321XLR could be a “gamechanger” for Norway as the narrowbody’s extended range will enable airlines to serve thinner long-haul routes profitably. However, he emphasized the importance of attracting the right airlines to serve the US market, aligning with Avinor’s sustainability goals and values.
Elsewhere, Avinor is keen to further develop its winter network to cater to visitors seeking to experience the Northern Lights in places like Tromsø and Lofoten, while the company is also seeking to attract more service to and from the UK. Langaas said UK leisure carrier Jet2.com intends to operate a program of flights to Bergen next spring, flying from Birmingham, Leeds Bradford, Manchester and Newcastle, which he hopes will act as a springboard to further expansion.
He added that interest in Norway has been strong since Routes Europe 2022, saying the event has been “tremendously successful.”
“Bergen has been an eye-opener for what Norway truly represents. While people may have heard about Norway, being in Bergen helps them realize its true essence,” Langaas said.
“Routes Europe has therefore played a role in opening eyes to Norway as a destination as a whole. Hence, the positive impact of Bergen extends beyond the city itself; it benefits all our international airports in Norway.”
