Norse Atlantic Cuts September Capacity by a Third as Its US Network Shrinks to One Route

Norse Atlantic Airways flew a much smaller own-brand network in September 2026, and its winter plan shows how far it is moving away from the transatlantic model it was built on. The Norwegian long-haul carrier said on 7 October that it carried 109,202 passengers in September across its scheduled network and ACMI/charter flying, down 32% from 161,568 a year earlier, as it kept capacity reduced in response to high fuel prices.

Fewer scheduled flights, fuller aircraft

According to the airline's monthly traffic release, Norse operated 211 flights in its own scheduled network in September, compared with 459 in September 2025. At the same time it flew 177 ACMI and charter flights for other customers, up from 66 a year earlier. FlightGlobal summarised the result as overall capacity and traffic falling by about a third, driven by the sharp reduction in scheduled flying.

The aircraft that did fly were close to full. Load factor across the network and ACMI/charter operations reached 96.9%, up from 95.2%. Unit revenue in its own network, measured as total revenue per available seat kilometre (TRASK), rose 35% year on year to 5.8 US cents from 4.3 US cents.

"Unit revenue to date in 2026 is up 25% from last year, as Norse maintains a strong network performance with close to full airplanes and stable operational performance," chief executive Eivind Roald said in the release. "We continue to fly with reduced capacity in response to the prolonged high fuel prices, while continuously optimizing our fleet allocation going forward."

One US route left for the winter

The traffic figures come two weeks after Norse removed New York from its winter 2026-27 schedule. Trade outlet TravelMole reported that London Gatwick–New York JFK and Rome Fiumicino–New York JFK are suspended from 25 October through 27 March 2027. Both routes had been planned at up to three weekly flights with Boeing 787-9s.

Aviation Week, citing OAG schedule data, said the two New York routes accounted for about 83,200 two-way seats and that the carrier's planned winter network had shrunk from about 552,000 seats to roughly 446,500. That leaves London Gatwick–Orlando as Norse's only scheduled transatlantic route to the United States this winter. Reuters noted that the airline's website currently offers US tickets from November only to Orlando.

It is a notable shift for a carrier founded in 2021 to offer low-cost flights between Europe and the US.

Thailand takes centre stage

Instead of New York, Norse is pointing its winter flying at Thailand. "In line with our flexible fleet deployment strategy, we have adjusted our winter program with increased focus on the Far East and see continued positive momentum for initial bookings," Roald said.

Aviation Week calculated that flights to Bangkok and Phuket from London Gatwick, Manchester, Oslo and Stockholm account for about 313,000 seats in winter 2026-27, around 70% of the airline's scheduled capacity. TravelMole reported that London Gatwick–Phuket rises to three weekly flights, Manchester–Bangkok moves to four weekly from December, and Oslo–Bangkok and Stockholm–Bangkok increase to as many as five weekly, with extra Phuket flights from both Scandinavian capitals.

Fleet returning from IndiGo

Norse says it operates a fleet of 12 Boeing 787 Dreamliners. Aviation Week reported that six 787-9s are due to return from an ACMI agreement with Indian carrier IndiGo on 1 November. Norse had previously said some of that returning capacity could expand its own network, including New York and Orlando, but the latest schedules put the emphasis on Europe–Thailand leisure flying instead.

The company also said it continues to pursue additional charter and ACMI opportunities for its aircraft, a business that has grown sharply this year.

What it means for passengers

For transatlantic travellers, the practical effect this winter is simple: Norse will serve the US only between London Gatwick and Orlando, and its New York flights are off sale until at least late March 2027. Whether New York returns for summer 2027 will depend on how fuel prices and the airline's charter commitments develop. For now, Norse is betting that full aircraft on Thai leisure routes and steady ACMI income are a safer use of its Dreamliners than head-to-head competition on the North Atlantic.