Norwegian faces expected loss in low season

Norwegian Air experienced a challenging first quarter, typical for the airline industry, ending with an operating loss of NOK 763 million (about DKK 484 million). This result, however, represents an improvement compared to last year’s first quarter, where the operating loss reached NOK 916 million. CEO Geir Karlsen is pleased, mentioning that the positive change shows Norwegian’s revenue and cost strategies are working well. The losses were anticipated due to a reduced winter flight schedule and full-scale operations, including flights to Southern Europe, only ramping up from March 31st. Contributing factors to the loss include a weak Norwegian krone and severe weather conditions. Despite the deficit, the annual outlook remains unchanged, expecting an operating profit between NOK 2.5 and 3.2 billion. Norwegian, along with its newly acquired regional carrier Wiederøe, operates a combined fleet of 136 aircraft, with potential for more pending delayed deliveries by Boeing.