Norwegian Air, which has been cutting routes that aren’t paying their way and looking for other ways to fuel a financial comeback, may be on the verge of adding a stop that’s long been a goal for discount airlines: London’s Heathrow.
The airline is confident, even though it was only granted enough of the airport’s coveted slots to fly three round trips a week, that it can make money there; its announcement of the summer-only service said that “We have a strong track record of disrupting incumbent carriers and alliances.”
The announcement also pointed out that the airline continuously adjusts the network in response to demand. That’s what it’s been doing for the past several months as it pulls back from heavy losses. It’s dropping service to the Americas and Thailand from Stockholm and Copenhagen to shift planes to heavier-demand routes from London, Paris and Barcelona.
Norwegian had hoped to get seven flights worth of slots, enough for a daily service, which at first glance would give operating from Heathrow a bit better chance. Norwegian will be the only true discounter at Heathrow; it and most of the others have made London Gatwick their home.
