newstodate.aero

Aug 09, 2022 (newstodate): Finavia is happy to see Norwegian growing its network and presence at Helsinki Airport.
   -Norwegian has now based four Boeing 737-800 aircraft at Helsinki Airport, bolstering its operational base in the Finnish market, says Petri Vuori, Finavia Snr VP Sales and Route Development.
   -Before the collapse of the earlier Norwegian, the carrier had nine aircraft dedicated to Helsinki Airport, so we are now back at about half of this earlier volume. And we are of course hoping for sustained growth by Norwegian at Helsinki Airport.
   -However, while Norwegian earlier also operated wide-body aircraft from Helsinki, routes are today served with narrow-body aircraft with fewer passengers and less cargo capacity. Anyhow, this is indeed still another positive sign of recovery at Helsinki Airport, says Mr Vuori.
   At its heyday until 2019/2020, Norwegian had grown to become the second-largest airline operating at Helsinki Airport, aggregating some 15 percent of the total traffic, and trailing only after Finnair accounting for some 65 percent.       
   And in the original pre-coronavirus summer schedule, Norwegian planned for direct non-stop flights from Helsinki to 21 international destinations, as well as flights on a domestic route network in Finland.
   Reopening flights at Helsinki Airport from June 28, 2021, Norwegian has been providing flights on 14 routes from Helsinki Airport, including two domestic routes to Oulo and Rovaniemi.     
   Norwegian opened its first base at Helsinki in March 2011 with three aircraft serving a network comprising 13 international and two domestic routes.