Norse Atlantic, a long-haul low-cost airline, is set to expand its winter flight schedule for the 2025/26 season by approximately 19.4%. According to data from aviation analytics provider Cirium, the airline plans to operate around 1,051 flights between November and February, up from 880 flights during the same period last year. This increase will result in an additional 57,798 seats available for travelers during the winter months.
The airline’s restructuring comes after a strong financial performance earlier this year, with a reported 27% increase in passenger revenue and a remarkable 97% load factor for the second quarter, reflecting a 36% year-over-year growth in passenger numbers. Despite this success, Norse has made significant adjustments to its network, particularly in the United States, where it has reduced its operational footprint.
New Routes to Southeast Asia
A major highlight of Norse Atlantic’s winter schedule is its expansion into Thailand, where it has introduced five new direct flights connecting the United Kingdom, Sweden, and Norway with Bangkok and Phuket. The service from London Gatwick to Bangkok commenced on October 26, 2025, with three to five weekly flights, while Manchester now boasts its first-ever direct route to Bangkok with daily flights starting on the same day.
The demand for travel between the UK and Thailand has been buoyant, with over 100,000 passengers traveling annually from Manchester to Bangkok via connecting hubs. The new nonstop flights aim to capture this leisure demand, particularly appealing to those seeking warmer destinations during the winter months.
Norse Atlantic has also expanded its services from Northern Europe, initiating twice-weekly flights from Stockholm to Bangkok on October 22, 2025. Additional weekly flights from Stockholm to Phuket are set to launch on December 4, 2025, followed by services from Oslo to Phuket starting on December 8, 2025. The Tourism Authority of Thailand reports a strong growth trend, with 757,960 visitors from the UK and 145,188 from Sweden between January and September 2025.
Streamlining US Operations
While Norse Atlantic is expanding eastward, it has simultaneously scaled back its transatlantic services. The airline has ceased several US routes from London Gatwick, including flights to Miami and Las Vegas. The move is part of a response to the challenges of maintaining profitability for winter flights to the US.
The London Gatwick to Miami route, which launched in 2023, struggled with load factors averaging 69%, below the airline’s network-wide average of 75% for US services. Despite recent improvements, with load factors exceeding 90% in some months, intense competition from major carriers such as British Airways and American Airlines made it difficult for Norse to sustain profitability.
Additionally, the airline has halted Miami flights from Oslo and Berlin, along with its service between Paris Charles De Gaulle and New York JFK. The final Paris–New York flight operated on October 17, 2025, marking the end of a route that had only three weekly frequencies.
As a result, Norse’s US network will consist of only three routes this winter: four to six weekly flights from London Gatwick to New York JFK, three to four weekly flights from London Gatwick to Orlando, and six times weekly flights from Rome Fiumicino to New York JFK until January 11, 2026.
Shifting Strategies
Norse Atlantic’s strategic adjustments indicate a shift towards leasing operations, as the airline seeks to stabilize its revenue streams. The demand for flights to Southern Africa has prompted a slight increase in capacity on the London Gatwick to Cape Town route, which will now feature up to six weekly flights using its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners.
The airline’s transition towards leasing is further exemplified by its agreement with Indian low-cost carrier IndiGo, which has plans to wet-lease six of Norse’s Boeing 787-9s by the end of the year. This strategy allows Norse to optimize aircraft utilization and generate consistent income, regardless of passenger demand fluctuations.
As Norse Atlantic navigates the complexities of the long-haul, low-cost market, its evolving network reflects both opportunities and challenges. The airline’s focus on expanding routes to Southeast Asia, coupled with a cautious approach to US operations, illustrates its adaptability in a competitive industry.
