Press release -
Norwegian Group had 1.6 million passengers in February
In February, Norwegian had 1,294,243 passengers, while Widerøe had 288,304 passengers, totalling 1,582,547 for the group. The capacity increased by 14 percent for Norwegian, while Widerøe had a capacity comparable to February 2024. Both airlines had good operational performance and punctuality in February.
“It is encouraging that we maintained a solid load factor of almost 85 percent while significantly increasing capacity compared to last year. In addition, both Norwegian and Widerøe have had a marked improvement in punctuality, which is essential for our customers,” said Geir Karlsen, CEO of Norwegian.
Norwegian’s capacity (ASK) in February was 2,219 million seat kilometres, up 14 percent from last year. Actual passenger traffic (RPK) for Norwegian was 1,881 million seat kilometres, up 12 percent, while the load factor was 84.8 percent, down 1.2 percentage points from the same period last year. Norwegian operated an average of 74 aircraft during February.
Widerøe had a stable capacity (ASK) in February with 149 million seat kilometres, down 0.5 percent from last year. The actual passenger traffic (RPK) for Widerøe was 104 million seat kilometres, while the load factor was 70.1 percent, up 2.9 percentage points.
On operational performance, both airlines have delivered high punctuality after some winter months with challenging weather. Norwegian’s and Widerøe’s punctuality, defined as the share of flights departing within 15 minutes of scheduled time, was 84.7 percent and 82.6 percent respectively. Regularity, measured by the share of scheduled flights taking place, was 99.5 percent for Norwegian and 96.0 percent for Widerøe.
Ramping up for a busy summer season
With Easter and spring around the corner, Norwegian and Widerøe are now in the process of ramping up for the busy summer season. The summer programme begins at the end of March, and both airlines are seeing good booking momentum for the peak season.
“We are ready for the fast-approaching summer season, and have received three brand new aircraft from Boeing so far this year. The Easter holiday period is in high demand, and those looking to travel for the holidays should book now. May is also filling up well with several public holidays, and the booking trend we see for the summer peak season is promising,” said Geir Karlsen.
A separate press release on Widerøe’s traffic figures can be found at the Widerøe media centre. (In Norwegian only)
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About Norwegian
The Norwegian group is a leading Nordic aviation company, headquartered at Fornebu outside Oslo, Norway. The company has over 8,200 employees and owns two of the prominent airlines in the Nordics: Norwegian Air Shuttle and Widerøe’s Flyveselskap. Widerøe was acquired by Norwegian in 2024, aiming to facilitate seamless air travel across the two airline’s networks.
Norwegian Air Shuttle, the largest Norwegian airline with around 4,700 employees, operates an extensive route network connecting Nordic countries to key European destinations. In 2024, Norwegian carried 22,6 million passengers and maintained a fleet of 86 Boeing 737-800 and 737 MAX 8 aircraft.
Widerøe’s Flyveselskap, Norway’s oldest airline, is Scandinavia’s largest regional carrier. The airline has more than 3,500 employees. Mainly operating the short-runway airports in rural Norway, Widerøe operates several state contract routes (PSO routes) in addition to its own commercial network. In 2024, the airline had 3.8 million passengers and a fleet of 49 aircraft, including 46 Bombardier Dash 8’s and three Embraer E190-E2's. Widerøe Ground Handling provides ground handling services at 41 Norwegian airports.
The Norwegian group has sustainability as a key priority and has committed to significantly reducing carbon emissions from its operations. Among numerous initiatives, the most noteworthy is the investment in production and use of fossil-free aviation fuel (SAF). Norwegian strives to become the sustainable choice for its passengers, actively contributing to the transformation of the aviation industry.
