Low-Cost Airlines Into Cooperation
After entering into a new strategic cooperation, Norwegian Air Shuttle ASA and Sterling Airlines A/S will cooperate on the routes Oslo – Copenhagen and Stockholm – Copenhagen from the 15th of September 2008. From the end of October the cooperation will be extended to a number of international destinations from Oslo and Stockholm.
After the summer holidays a new code share pact between the two largest low cost airlines in Scandinavia will allow passengers to choose among the offerings of both carriers. The strategic cooperation will give passengers a better schedule to choose from. Under the code share agreement both carriers will market, price and sell the routes independently, but will cooperate on the production.
“The new strategic cooperation between Sterling and Norwegian enables both carriers to utilize the fleet and resources in a much more efficient way, and further strengthen our position in the European market. This cooperation makes a lot of sense with the soaring fuel-prices we see today,” said Bjørn Kjos, CEO of Norwegian.
“Sterling had operated similar code share agreements with both Norwegian and with Fly Nordic, before its acquisition by Norwegian, and we are pleased to offer our customers the increased flexibility of choosing routes operated by us and our partner again. Both Norwegian and Sterling have a clear interest in maintaining satisfied customers by offering a wide choice of products at attractive prices and this agreement should make it simpler for passengers to travel with both of us,” said Reza Taleghani, President and CEO of Sterling.
The code share routes will include Oslo-Copenhagen, Oslo-Alicante, Oslo-Malaga, Oslo-Faro, Oslo-Nice, Oslo-Barcelona, Oslo-Tenerife, Stockholm-Copenhagen, Stockholm-Alicante, Stockholm-Malaga, Stockholm-Nice and Stockholm-Las Palmas. Norwegian will primarily operate the flights out off Oslo and Sterling will primarily operate out of Stockholm. The final schedule will be released in late August.
The above mentioned cooperation agreement is subject to approval from competition authorities.