Norse Atlantic Airways, a long-haul low-cost airline, has announced plans to adjust its network from London Gatwick this winter. According to data filed with aviation analytics firm Cirium, the airline will suspend its Miami route starting October 25. This change aligns with the launch of a new service to Bangkok on the following day.
The Miami route’s future remains uncertain as Norse has not confirmed the suspension. However, it appears unlikely that the route will continue through winter.
The Miami service, operated by Norse Atlantic UK, currently runs twice weekly using a Boeing 787-9 configured for 338 passengers. Despite this capacity, occupancy rates have been consistently low since the route’s launch in October 2023. On average, only 69% of seats were filled between then and November 2024, compared to Norse Atlantic Airways’ overall average of 75% on US services during the same period.
In January 2024, occupancy hit a low of 49%, while November saw a peak at 86%. The frequency was reduced from daily to twice weekly starting September 10 for the winter season.
Norse faces stiff competition on the London-Miami route from British Airways, American Airlines, and Virgin Atlantic. These airlines offer multiple daily flights using larger aircraft like the Airbus A380-800 and Boeing 777-300ER. Given this competitive landscape and lower occupancy rates, yields on Norse’s flights may not be sufficient despite their focus on low fares.
There are rumors that Norse has informed its Fort Lauderdale-Miami crew about closing its Miami base. Additionally, routes between Miami and other cities like Berlin and Oslo are not scheduled for return in winter 2025 according to Cirium data. Flights from Miami to Paris Charles de Gaulle were also recently suspended.
Previously, Norwegian Air—Norse Atlantic’s predecessor—operated services to Miami but eventually stopped them after initially trying nearby Fort Lauderdale as a cost-saving measure.
Due to challenges in sustaining certain routes over time, Norse is increasingly turning towards ACMI (Aircraft Crew Maintenance Insurance) operations by leasing planes to other airlines for more stable revenue streams. An agreement with IndiGo will see Norse aircraft support IndiGo’s long-haul European expansion starting next summer.
