Bjorn Kjos wants partners

Norwegian Air is interested in partnering with other European low-cost carriers such as Ryanair and easyJet to extend its short-haul network. (see also Low cost carriers alliance in this issue).

Norwegian, which is Europe's third-biggest budget airline by passenger numbers after Ryanair and easyJet, has launched flights to the Middle East, southeast Asia and the United States, targeting a growing share of the long-haul market.

"We will definitely look at cooperating with other low-cost players. We cannot cover the whole of Europe," Bjorn Kjos, chief executive, told  Reuters  news agency at an aviation finance conference in Dublin.

"That gives us possibility to fly passengers not to 450 routes, but maybe 2,000 routes," he added.

Norwegian Air is using Boeing 787 Dreamliners on routes to the Caribbean, United States and Asia.  Kjos emphasised those operations were already profitable with just 7-8 aircraft flying.  Kjos said that in general it was long-haul flights that suffered major delays, and they would have to be liable. 

Michael O'Leary, chief executive of Ryanair, has also mooted the idea of providing short-haul flights to join up with the long-haul networks of full-service carriers, but has refused to share in the costs incurred by delays or lost baggage.   www.norwegian.com

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