The strong are getting stronger and the weak are getting weaker, according to outgoing easyJet chief executive Carolyn McCall, who said the collapse of several rival airlines has boosted growth at the low-cost carrier.
Take-off and landing slots at London Gatwick, Manchester and Birmingham that were previously controlled by collapsed carrier Monarch Airlines are set to be reallocated to other airlines after administrators lost a legal bid to retain them.
European long-haul, low-cost operator Norwegian is known to be exploring markets in Asia to expand its business formula to the East. It previously only served Bangkok out of Scandinavia, but has now confirmed a London Gatwick - Singapore link, and more routes are set to follow as additional Boeing 787s join the fleet.
Norwegian will launch flights from both Denver International Airport and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to London’s Gatwick Airport this September. With these additions, Norwegian now offers nine non-stop routes from across the United States to London, serving more city pair markets than any US airline.
European low-cost carrier Norwegian is set to open four new operational bases – two in the US and two in Europe – in 2017 to support the growth of its long-haul transatlantic network. The internal go-ahead for the expansion follows the final approval late last week by the US Department of Transportation for a foreign carrier permit for the airline’s Norwegian Air International business.
Tianjin currently has limited connectivity outside of Asia from Binhai International Airport, but is increasingly being seen as an alternative access point into China’s capital city, Beijing, which is just 120km away and a journey of just 35 minutes by high-speed train.
London’s hub airport is almost operating at capacity and a decision is expected in the coming weeks about a possible expansion. On the agenda is the extension of an existing runway, the creation of a third runway, or an expansion at fellow London airport Gatwick.
