Norse Atlantic Cuts Budget Flights to London, Paris and Berlin

Budget long‑haul carrier Norse Atlantic Airways is pulling back from key European gateways while pushing deeper into charter work, a move that will affect thousands of price‑sensitive travelers this winter. As of August 21, 2025, the airline confirmed sweeping cuts to cheap flights touching London, Paris, and Berlin, plus a reset of its transatlantic schedule.

The sharpest change hits London Gatwick, where Norse will end Miami service on October 25, 2025 and switch to Bangkok the next day, citing weaker demand across the United States 🇺🇸 and stronger interest in Asia and Africa. Routes from Paris CDG and Berlin will also shrink.

Norse has:
– Suspended Berlin–New York JFK for the winter after September 26, 2025.
– Cut Paris CDG–Los Angeles from October 24, 2025.
– Kept Miami links to Paris and Berlin off the winter map.
– Ended seasonal Athens–New York on November 30, 2025.
– Removed Paris–New York JFK for the colder months.

These U.S. route reductions were first flagged in April 2025 and are not expected to return during winter 2025/26.

New and expanded services

Norse is opening and growing routes it believes can sell out at low costs. Key changes include:

• Starts Oct 26, 2025: London Gatwick–Bangkok launches, up to four weekly flights; return fares advertised from £295.
• December growth: Frequencies from Oslo–Bangkok and Stockholm–Bangkok rise to as many as four weekly.
• Continues: London Gatwick–Cape Town remains on the winter map with three to four weekly flights.

Important: London Gatwick–Bangkok will face competition from established carriers—British Airways already operates six weekly Gatwick flights to Bangkok, and Heathrow and other hubs provide additional connections.

Route changes and timeline

• Ends Oct 25, 2025: London Gatwick–Miami discontinued.
• Starts Oct 26, 2025: London Gatwick–Bangkok launches (up to four weekly); fares from £295 return.
• Ends Sep 26, 2025: Berlin–New York JFK suspended for winter 2025/26.
• Ends Oct 24, 2025: Paris CDG–Los Angeles dropped for winter.
• Not scheduled winter 2025: Miami–Berlin and Miami–Paris removed.
• Ends Nov 30, 2025: Athens–New York JFK seasonal service concludes.
• Continues: London Gatwick–Cape Town (three to four weekly).
• December growth: Oslo–Bangkok and Stockholm–Bangkok increase (up to four weekly).

Strategic shift to ACMI (charter) operations

Norse is moving more aircraft into ACMI operations (providing Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, Insurance to other airlines or charter partners). Highlights:

• The carrier already operates one jet under ACMI for IndiGo and plans to place five more with IndiGo by early 2026.
• If completed, that will leave just six aircraft for Norse’s own scheduled network — a significantly slimmed fleet aligned with a seasonal approach.
• Norse also flies cruise charters for P&O Cruises between the UK and the Caribbean.

Founder and CEO Bjørn Tore Larsen argues that a dual strategy—lean scheduled flying plus expanded ACMI—provides steadier cash flow and less exposure to market swings. He cites strong load factors as evidence the airline can fill seats when routes are chosen carefully, while acknowledging softness on some transatlantic city pairs and stronger demand to Asia and Africa for the fall and winter.

Financial snapshot (2025)

• Q2 2025
  • Record load factor: 97% (up 15 percentage points year over year).
  • Passenger growth: 36%.
  • Revenue: $202.6 million (up 25%).
  • Net loss: $6.0 million.
• First half of 2025
  • Revenue: $327.9 million (up 35%).
  • Operating costs: up 8.4%.

Other measures to trim expenses included job cuts and moving some head‑office functions to Riga, Latvia.

Contacts and sources

• Investor questions: CFO Anders Hall Jomaas
• Media queries: CCO Bård Nordhagen
• Booking changes or schedules: Norse directs customers to its website at flights.flynorse.com.
• Industry commentary: VisaVerge.com notes the strong load factor is a marketing story, but the year‑to‑date loss and fleet reallocation highlight the limits of chasing low fares on every lane.

What this means for travelers and communities

These cuts will particularly affect immigrants, students, and workers who rely on cheap long‑haul seats to keep ties across borders.

• Fewer low‑fare options into London Gatwick, Paris CDG, and Berlin can mean:
  • Longer routings,
  • Higher prices on peak dates,
  • Or both.

Families planning travel to the United States 🇺🇸 may need to:
– Connect via different hubs,
– Shift travel to off‑peak days,
– Or accept longer journey times.

If your flight is canceled or changed by the airline, you may have refund rights. The U.S. Department of Transportation explains refund rules for cancellations and major schedule changes on its consumer site; read the agency’s guidance here: https://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer/refunds.

Practical steps for passengers

Follow these steps to save time and money when flights shift:

1. Check your booking and contact the airline promptly if the new itinerary doesn’t work.
2. Ask about rebooking on the closest available date, including partner airlines if offered.
3. Confirm any transit visa rules if you must re‑route through a different country.
4. Watch total journey time; cheaper options with long layovers can cause missed work or school days.
5. Keep receipts if delays force you to buy meals or a hotel; carrier policies differ.

Market and operational outlook

• The pivot to ACMI charters aims to smooth cash flow and reduce risk.
• If the IndiGo placements and other charters hold, Norse’s own route map will be smaller by early 2026, but schedules may become more reliable because aircraft won’t be stretched across many markets.
• For winter trips, the practical advice is simple: check dates and keep options open. Bargain hunters targeting Gatwick, CDG, or Berlin may still find deals, but fewer will come from Norse’s scheduled network.
• Those travelling during school breaks or on leave should book early, watch change rules closely, and have a back‑up plan if a seasonal cut removes the nonstop they expected.