Wizz Air is to close its recently opened Tronheim base as Covid-19 continues to disrupt air travel in Norway.
The carrier will consolidate its Norwegian operations to its main base at Oslo Gardermoen, a decision that will have “no effect on the routes, the capacity or the number of weekly departures”, it highlights.
Wizz adds that opposition from the country’s labour unions played no role in the move, which was based upon “the current domestic and international situation”. The carrier has faced calls for a boycott from Norwegian unions and even criticism from Prime Minister Erna Solberg over its employment practices.
Wizz began operating on several Norwegian domestic routes last November but almost immediately pared back its operations in the country.
Ryanair Group chief executive Michael O’Leary referenced Wizz’s decision to close Trondheim base on the carrier’s results call on 1 February, saying the decision – which at that point had not been announced – meant that Wizz “can’t even compete with Norwegian, which is a pretty low bar”.
Competition in the country’s domestic market is set to increase in 2021. As well as existing players Norwegian, Wizz, SAS and Wideroe, start-up carrier Flyr plans to begin domestic Norwegian operations later this year.
