Norwegian firms 50 MAX 8s as part of Boeing peace deal

Watchdog gives Norwegian interim refusal to buy Widerøe

Norway’s competition authority (Konkurransetilsynet) has released a provisional assessment that it remains of the opinion that “competition in the aviation market may be significantly weakened” if the planned acquisition by Norwegian (Oslo Gardermoen) of rival carrier Widerøe (WF, Bodø) is allowed to go ahead.

The watchdog had already, in mid-September, said it was concerned that a tie-up could lead to higher prices and fewer departures for passengers. It has now announced that a possible ban may be slapped on the deal. Permitting the merger would leave only two airlines, Norwegian and SAS Scandinavian Airlines (SK, Copenhagen Kastrup), to compete for passengers in Norway, it said.

“The acquisition would lead, among other things, to us going from three to two players on several domestic routes. We see a real risk that competition in the market could be weakened in a way that leads to higher fares and a worse range of routes,” said the regulator’s director, Tina Søreide.

There is a risk, the authority said, of weakened competition on routes...

MAX delivery delays force Norwegian to extend B737 contracts

Norwegian settles trademark dispute with Bank Norwegian

Norwegian secures TUI Nordics charter contract

Norwegian (Oslo Gardermoen) and tour operator TUI Group will continue their collaboration for the upcoming winter 2023-24 and summer 2024 seasons with flights from across Scandinavia to destinations in the rest of Europe, according to a statement from the low-cost carrier.

Norwegian will deliver 70% of TUI’s charter capacity in Norway for the coming year and will also operate flights for the travel company out of Sweden and Denmark. TUI is its biggest charter customer, and the two companies have been collaborating since 2010.

The airline will operate the charter flights “from several regional and main airports in Norway and Sweden as well as from Copenhagen Kastrup in Denmark,” the statement said.

Tommy Serban, commercial director at TUI Nordic, told the Norwegian news agency NTB that the flights will initially focus “on our biggest winter travel destination, the Canary Islands.”

In Norway, he elaborated, Norwegian will operate flights for TUI from Oslo Gardermoen, Oslo Torp, Alesund, Bergen, Bodø, Harstad/Narvik, Haugesund, Stavanger, and...