Long-haul budget carrier Norse Atlantic Airways has reported forward bookings up 77% year-on-year so far in January.
The performance came as the airline conducts a strategic review announced in October and cut frequencies on future low demand routes.
Strategic advisors from UK firm Seabury Securities were appointed in November following interest in Norse Atlantic expressed by two airlines seeking to explore “industrial opportunities” with the company.
Norse Atlantic said prior to the appointment: “It is the company’s clear impression from these discussions that the company’s business, market position and assets are perceived as attractive, and that the company may be well positioned to capitalise on this through industrial or strategic actions.”
Norse Atlantic carried 79,240 passengers in December across 343 flights, including 22 charters, with an improved average load factor of 71%, up ten percentage points over the same month in 2022.
Founder and chief executive Bjorn Tore Larsen said: “December represented a busy month for Norse as passenger demand increased in line with the holiday season while we continued our robust operational performance throughout the month with zero cancellations.
“We are also pleased to have completed 22 charter flights during December which highlights the continued focus on the efficient use of our fleet during the quieter winter months.
“During December we launched sales from New York to Athens with flights to commence in May 2024, we also released for sale the first wave of flights across our network running up to the end of the winter 2025 season, furthermore, forward bookings since 1 January 2024 are 77% higher than the same period last year.
“Additionally, we have reduced the frequencies of certain low demand routes in the seasons ahead to ensure that our focus remains on operating a profitable network.
“We continue to conduct the ongoing strategic review of the business as previously announced and will update once concluded.”
Launched in June 2022 with flights from Oslo to New York after being established the previous year, Norse Atlantic has developed a presence at Gatwick offering a network of low fare transatlantic services.
The airline started winter routes from Gatwick to Barbados and Jamaica in December.