newstodate.aero
May 02, 2013 (newstodate): The Danish regional carrier DAT is again adjusting its offerings in Norway's domestics flights market.
From May 1, 2013, the carrier is pulling out from serving the route between Floroe and Stavanger that is primarily bringing passengers to and from the North Sea helicopter flights in connection with the country's off-shore activities.
The route will instead be taken over by the SAS Group's carrier Wideroe that has also effectively been stressing DAT on other Norwegian domestic routes.
-Competition in Norway's air transport is extremely tough with all the characteristics pertaining to a virtually monopolized market, says Jesper Rungholm, DAT CEO and owner.
-Whenever we have proved the profitability of a certain route and obtained loyal support from customers in local markets, Wideroe will fight to step in to take over through rates clearly below commercial levels. And as local markets do not grow more passengers with more traffic, the competitive situation is unsustainable.
-Having said that, Norway is indeed an attractive market due to its geography calling for air transportation that customers are basically willing to pay for in lack of other transport offerings. So we will stay and fight even in the face of a cruel and often unfair competition, says Mr Rungholm.
In the fleet of DAT and its Lithuanian sister airline DOT are now 22 aircraft in operation plus "several more" currently under maintenance, repair or preparations for entering commercial service after recent acquisition.
Actually, DAT has acquired eight more aircraft during the past 18 months.
From May 1, 2013, the carrier is pulling out from serving the route between Floroe and Stavanger that is primarily bringing passengers to and from the North Sea helicopter flights in connection with the country's off-shore activities.
The route will instead be taken over by the SAS Group's carrier Wideroe that has also effectively been stressing DAT on other Norwegian domestic routes.
-Competition in Norway's air transport is extremely tough with all the characteristics pertaining to a virtually monopolized market, says Jesper Rungholm, DAT CEO and owner.
-Whenever we have proved the profitability of a certain route and obtained loyal support from customers in local markets, Wideroe will fight to step in to take over through rates clearly below commercial levels. And as local markets do not grow more passengers with more traffic, the competitive situation is unsustainable.
-Having said that, Norway is indeed an attractive market due to its geography calling for air transportation that customers are basically willing to pay for in lack of other transport offerings. So we will stay and fight even in the face of a cruel and often unfair competition, says Mr Rungholm.
In the fleet of DAT and its Lithuanian sister airline DOT are now 22 aircraft in operation plus "several more" currently under maintenance, repair or preparations for entering commercial service after recent acquisition.
Actually, DAT has acquired eight more aircraft during the past 18 months.