Norwegian (Oslo Gardermoen) has announced the closure of multiple bases across its network as part of its Focus2019 plan that aims to generate savings of at least NOK2 billion kroner (USD229 million) in 2019.
An internal airline communique to staff seen by ch-aviation said that as part of Focus2019, it had conducted a review of its B737-800 and B737-8 network operations with the goal of improving profitability, reducing the commercial impact of seasonality, while consequently increasing revenue and cutting costs.
As such, Norwegian said that it would close its bases in Palma de Mallorca, Gran Canaria, and Tenerife Sur in Spain; Rome Fiumicino in Italy; and Newburgh and Providence in the United States. However, while Rome's long-haul B787 base will continue to operate as planned, longhaul flight crew bases in Amsterdam Schiphol, Bangkok Suvarnabhumi, and Fort Lauderdale International will also close.
"The company has reached a point where it needs to make necessary adjustments to its route portfolio in order to improve the sustainability and financial performance in this very competitive environment," it said. "The decision about the route review has now been communicated to all the unions at Norwegian and we have already started the dialogue. We have a clear goal of avoiding redundancies and will offer affected crew transfers to our bases in Oslo Gardermoen, Stockholm Arlanda, and Madrid Barajas, or to our thriving Dreamliner-operated long-haul network."
A subsequent comment to Reuters said the base closures would begin from April onwards and would run through to year-end.
