Budget airline Norwegian carried more than 2.3 million passengers in June, an increase of 21 per cent compared to the same month last year, according to the airline’s monthly traffic report.
The carrier, which last week (June 2) started direct long haul services to Los Angeles from Gatwick, operated 99.8 per cent of its scheduled flights in June, with 83.4 per cent departing on time.
Norwegian said the on-time performance was affected by industrial action among air traffic controllers in France.
The airline’s load factor for June was 82.5 per cent.
Norwegian chief executive Bjørn Kjos said: “I’m pleased that we keep increasing the load factors even with major capacity growth.
“This proves that our offer of quality flights at affordable fares is welcomed by the customers. We continue to attract new customers in markets outside Scandinavia, in line with our international strategy.”
Over the past six months some of Europe’s largest unions have called for the authorities to deny Norwegian’s application for a foreign air carrier permit.
The airline wants the licence so it can operate from its Irish base in Dublin and “gain access to future traffic rights to and from the EU”.
Unions refute this claim and believe Norwegian wants the foreign licence so it can “circumvent worker protections by evading international labour laws”.
The US Department of Transport is currently considering its decision. The airline has admitted the delay in gaining the permanent licence has led to it suspending talks to purchase 20 Dreamliner planes from Boeing.
Norwegian.com