Opportunities in Scandinavian long haul post Norwegian

With Norwegian gone from the Scandinavian long haul market, including its transatlantic connectivity through Gatwick, there should be growth opportunities for SAS.


One will assume long haul will come strongly back if not end of 2021 so at least in 2022. And at least in the northern hemisphere markets will be full back by summer 2022. This gives opportunities for they who early prepares after the permanent exit of some airlines from long haul during the pandemic.

SAS should now prepare for what it will do when this market returns. Now is when cheap(ish) deals for long haul aircraft can be made for they with a plan, and guts.

Insted of going for a strategy of highest prices retrievable with the short term lowering of capacity, one should seriously consider if more profit can't be obtained by increasing ones own capcity, therebye lowering prices slightly. For a payback in the form of increase in demand. In addition to avoid letting potential passengers leak to competitors stuffed with government bailouts. Or even new upstarts with investor newly minted money to burn.   


One shouldn't just look to what long haul was for Norwegian from Oslo and Copenhagen, but also at how many short hauled to a base like London Gatwick and flew on from there. It is unlikely 2 years of suppressed travel needs will have dissipated instead of leaving to a surge in demand when risk and restrictions are lifted. 

One also risks that middle estern airlines with their hub transfer policy will push for opportunities in the Europe to Asia market. You already see them going for the cargo market with their spare capacity.


This time it can pay to be prepared with a couple of extra widebodies ready to go. If summer 2021 isn't a success people will quickly be ready to book for 2022. Spring of that year will be late to catch the early bookers instead of the bargain hunters. Also many cruise comanies have long since started taking bookings for the 2022 season so airlines need to be ready to offer connecting capacity early.


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