The Norwegian Competition Authority issued its assessment on Thursday afternoon. – It has been necessary to make a thorough assessment of the acquisition, says competition director Tina Søreide. Competition director Tina Søreide. Photo: Benjamin Innbjor Bargard / The supervisory authority has “collected and reviewed extensive documentation from the parties and other players in the market”. The supervisory authority has now concluded that the acquisition will not significantly hinder competition in the Norwegian aviation industry. Widerøe thus gets a new “safe and good industrial” owner, says aviation analyst Hans Jørgen Elnæs and concludes: – They could not have had a better owner than Norwegian, 1.1 billion It was in July that the airline Norwegian announced that they were buying Widerøe for 1 NOK 1 billion. In mid-September, the Norwegian Competition Authority concluded that they needed more time to analyze the effects of the acquisition. Norwegian buys Widerøe for NOK 1.1 billion. Photo: Gorm Kallestad / NTB The airlines were notified on 17 November that the Norwegian Supervisory Authority could stop the acquisition. At the beginning of December, the inspectorate first said “no”. They then concluded that competition in the aviation market could be significantly weakened as a result of the acquisition. On Thursday, the inspection turned around. Sten Nilsen is CEO of Widerøe. Photo: Kåre Riibe Ramskjell / news – It’s the best Christmas present I could get, says Widerøe CEO Sten Nilsen to news. He emphasizes that the airline industry is a demanding industry. Turbulent years For several of the airlines, it took several years before they were able to recover after the pandemic. Widerøe and Norwegian are among the companies that have struggled. The latter managed to reverse the trend, after a dramatic turnaround. This year, the company delivered its second best quarterly result in the company’s history. Flight analyst Hans Jørgen Elnæs. Photo: Marit Sirum-Eikre / news – Norwegian has been in trouble, but has managed to turn the company around. They are now a very solid company, says Elnæs. Over time, Widerøe expressed that they wanted to be acquired, rather than being a competitor in the main route network. CEO of Widerøe, Stein Nilsen, was also clear that the company wanted to be acquired by Norwegian. – With Norwegian’s experience, Widerøe can also become a profitable company and be able to continue to provide good connections to and in the districts, he believes. To remain as a separate company According to Norwegian, the acquisition will give customers a better route offer on the fixed route network, more options and help secure Norwegian jobs. Widerøe will continue as its own airline, with its own brand, organization and head office in Bodø. – I think this is a good Christmas present for all of us who fly a lot, and especially those of us who use the planes in the districts. So I am very happy that the Norwegian Competition Authority has reversed itself and now I agree to the acquisition. This is what the county councilor for transport in Nordland, Marianne Dobak Kvensjø, says. The acquisition means better competition and cheaper prices for those who are going out to fly, she concludes. – And we are also completely dependent on that here in Nordland.
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– Couldn’t get a better owner – news Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country
