The Norwegian krone has become less and less valuable, which has led to higher costs for Widerøe – and the passengers. In April, Widerøe raised ticket prices. Today the bang came. Compared to April last year, the company experienced a decrease of 13.7 per cent fewer travellers. The company filled 56.6 per cent of the seats, a decrease from 64.1 per cent CEO Stein Nilsen asks the government to cut the air passenger tax to ease the pressure. CUT IN ROUTES: Widerøe has up to 450 flight departures daily. Starting this autumn, there may be fewer: – We have to fill the planes better than we did last winter, says Stein Nilsen in Widerøe. Photo: Synnøve Sundby Fallmyr / news Animal imports push prices The low krone exchange rate drives up prices for the airline headquartered in Bodø. – We buy both fuel, aircraft, aircraft parts and everything needed in dollars or euros, says Widerøe CEO Stein Nilsen. Nilsen says the krone exchange rate alone accounts for a price increase of 10 per cent this year, and that only a small number of the winter’s flight routes were operated with a profit. This is despite increased prices for plane tickets. – Our profitability is under a lot of pressure. 240,000 passengers flew with Widerøe in April. This is a decrease of 13.7 per cent from the same month in 2022 when 278,000 passengers flew with Widerøe. Photo: news – Does it help if you raise the prices more? – No, it doesn’t. It only means that companies and customers who are already under pressure from before, stop travelling. Photo: INAR ASLAKSEN Nilsen says Widerøe is facing a dilemma, and that they are cautious about making price increases. There may be fewer departures Widerøe announces a cut in the number of flight departures in the autumn. – We have to fill the planes better than we did last winter, says Nilsen. Are you dependent on Widerøe’s flight offer? Yes, often Yes, occasionally No Show result Depending on a good tourist season Flight expert Hans Jørgen Elnæs says that he has long been clear that prices must rise for the airlines to be able to recoup their expenses. – But the ticket price is starting to reach a level that affects demand. He says that summer tourism will be decisive for the airlines, and that this is where they have the opportunity to earn enough money to prepare for a tough winter season. – If demand from abroad falls, it will affect the results of the airlines if ticket prices are too high for the domestic market. Photo: MARIT SIRUM-EIKRE / news Asking for help from the government The air passenger tax was introduced in 2016, and was NOK 80 per passenger until 2019. Since then, the tax has been increased to NOK 82. Nilsen says that Norway has the world’s highest tax level for domestic travel, and is clear on what the solution is. – The air passenger tax must be abolished. Right now, the most important move that politicians can make is if you want a profitable and stable Norwegian aviation. – The tax is incredibly difficult for us to handle when we have such a large imported price increase as we have from abroad, says Nilsen. Bent-Joacim Bentzen, state secretary in the Ministry of Transport, says the government must assess the tax, and that it must be looked at in connection with the ordinary budget process. Tobias and Delia move from Oslo to the small village of Golnes in Finnmark to restore an old house. Kjell starts his new life as ground crew.
ttn-69
– The air passenger tax must be abolished. – news Nordland
