Norwegian Air December Traffic Rises 11 Percent

January 8, 2009

Budget airline Norwegian Air Shuttle said on Thursday that it carried 11 percent more passengers in December compared to a year ago and the number for full year 2008 increased by nearly one-third.

Norwegian Air, a rival of Scandinavian airline SAS, said that the total number of passengers it carried in its Norwegian, Danish, Swedish and Polish operations rose to 651,895.

In 2008, it carried 9.14 million passengers, a 32 percent increase on 2007.

"We are very satisfied with passenger growth, and are looking forward to 2009 with excitement," the airline said.

The yield -- the average revenue per passenger carried and kilometre flown in the airline's operations in Norway, Denmark and Poland -- rose 13 percent in December from the same period last year to 0.68 Norwegian kronor (USD$0.097).

"The increase in passenger traffic, production and passengers is related to the company's expansion in established markets and to the introduction of new routes from January 2008 to December 2008," Norwegian Air Shuttle said in a statement.

The yield in its Swedish operation -- the rebranded FlyNordic, which was acquired in July 2007 and is reported on separately -- fell 29 percent to 0.64 kronor. The company said the drop was caused by new routes and 70 percent longer average flying distance for its flights.

Total passenger traffic (RPK), which factors in distance flown, increased in the main operations by 20 percent year-on-year in December, Norwegian Air Shuttle said, but the load factor fell to 74 percent from 77 percent a year ago.

"The domestic market share has increased in Norway, and is now well above 45 percent on some of the major routes," the group said.

Internet sales accounted for 90 percent of tickets sold in December, it said.

AirWise, © Ascent Pacific 2009