Yesterday Norwegian (NAS) reported its second quarter results for 2015. The pre-tax result (EBT) was MNOK 456 an improvement of MNOK 593 from the previous year. The load factor for this period was 85 percent with strong progress in all of Norwegian’s markets. This also applies to the long-haul operation where the load factor was over 90 percent and the passenger number has more than doubled since the same period last year a press release issued by the airline states.
The load factor for the second quarter was 85 percent up five percentage points from the same quarter last year. Norwegian’s long-haul operation had an even higher load factor of 91 percent. During the second quarter the airline carried 324000 passengers on its long-haul network. This means that passenger figures for the long-haul operation has more than doubled since the same period last year where the passenger number was 139000. Norwegian currently operates 434 routes in Europe USA and Asia – 21 of which are long-haul routes. All in all Norwegian has 28 long-haul destinations for sale with more to come within just a few weeks including London Gatwick – Boston.
During the second quarter Norwegian took delivery of a new 787 Dreamliner and two Boeing 737-800 aircraft. Today Norwegian has a long-haul fleet of eight Dreamliner aircraft. Four more Dreamliners will be added to the fleet next year; all of which will be a bigger version of the ones Norwegian operates today.
Solid growth in all markets
Seven million passengers chose to travel with Norwegian in the second quarter – an increase of nine percent. Norwegian’s strongest growth in terms of passenger numbers was at London Gatwick with Oslo Airport as a close runner up. The Spanish airports are also experiencing a solid rise in number of Norwegian-passengers. During this quarter Norwegian has launched domestic routes in Spain new routes to the Caribbean as well as new routes between the Caribbean and the cities of Boston New York and Washington DC.
Despite a weak Norwegian krone the unit costs are down ensuring the company’s competitiveness in the future. The fuel prices have decreased which more than outweighs the effects of a weak Norwegian krone. New aircraft consume considerably less fuel than older aircraft which gives Norwegian a significant competitive advantage. Norwegian boasts one of the world’s youngest aircraft fleets with an average age of just four years.
During the second quarter Norwegian’s total revenue was almost BNOK 5.9 up 16 percent from the same quarter last year. Norwegian’s long-haul routes had a revenue growth of 60 percent. Norwegian’s production growth (ASK) for this quarter was 8 percent while the company’s traffic growth (RPK) was 15 percent which reflects that each of Norwegian’s passengers on average flies significantly longer than they did before. In addition more and more passengers are purchasing optional extras on board.
Norwegian named the world’s best low cost long haul airline
CEO of Norwegian Air Shuttle Mr Bjírn Kjos explaining the challenges of the airline industry. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
“It has been a good quarter for Norwegian with a positive growth throughout our route network particularly on our long-haul network. We fill the seats on our aircraft we continue to launch new and exciting destinations and not least we have received fantastic feedback from our customers in the form of two SkyTrax awards” Norwegian’s CEO Bjírn Kjos says.
In June Norwegian was voted Best Low-Cost Airline in Europe for the third year running as well the World’s Best Low-Cost Long-Haul Airline for the first time only two years after launching its long-haul service. Skytrax World Airline Awards is the most prestigious and recognized accolade in the airline industry. Travellers from over 160 countries take part each year in the world’s largest airline passenger satisfaction survey to decide the award winners.
Top photo: Norwegian machine on the runway. Photograpger: Hans Olav Nyborg Norwegian.
