Norse Expands with Rome-Los Angeles Route, Reduces Network Elsewhere
Norse Atlantic Airways is set to introduce a new transatlantic service between Rome Fiumicino (FCO) and Los Angeles (LAX) starting May 22, 2025, with three weekly flights on Boeing 787-9 aircraft. This service marks a key addition to Norse’s U.S. routes and will compete with ITA Airways, which operated daily flights on the route in summer 2024. The carrier also plans to boost its Oslo-Los Angeles frequency to three times weekly for the summer 2025 season, up from twice weekly in 2024.
While adding new routes, Norse is also trimming others. Schedules data indicates the airline will cut two long-haul routes from Oslo, including suspending service to Bangkok and Miami after winter 2024-25, without resuming them for summer 2025. Other frequency reductions include routes from London Gatwick (LGW) to Miami, New York JFK, and Los Angeles, with reductions ranging from 17% to 48% compared to last summer. Some routes from Paris Charles de Gaulle and Rome to New York JFK will also see cuts, while Athens-JFK will increase by 12%.
Norse recently streamlined operations to focus solely on its 787-9 aircraft, expanding its fleet to 12 while returning three 787-8s. Additionally, Norse is shifting toward charter and ACMI (aircraft, crew, maintenance, and insurance) operations to improve profitability, planning to allocate half its winter capacity to these services.
The airline is expected to join the Global Distribution System (GDS) to reach corporate and leisure travel agents, reflecting a strategic pivot. Norse’s Q2 losses narrowed year-over-year, although revenue per passenger dipped, reflecting its commitment to maintaining low costs amid evolving operational priorities.
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