Airlines in the Nordics - statistics & facts
Air traffic is an important means of transportation in all Nordic countries. Long distances, remote communities, limited connections ground to the rest of continental Europe and the world, and in some cases located on an island, make the vast Scandinavian region (Sweden, Denmark, Norway, the Faroe Islands, and Iceland) and the wider Nordic region, a key market for air travel.
The leading airlines in the region are Scandinavian Airlines, Norwegian Air Shuttle, and Icelandair, which belongs to the Icelandair Group. All these companies are based in Scandinavia. Other minor airlines are the Norwegian Widerøe, Sweden's Novair, TUIfly Nordic, and the Denmark-based Thomas Cook Airlines Scandinavia. Atlantic Airways, based on the Faroe Islands, and Air Greenland also operate in the region. The Icelandic low-cost carrier WOW air ceased its operation in March 2019. A new low-cost airline operating under the name Play airlines was established in Iceland in June 2019 and began operations in 2021.
Scandinavian Airlines is a member of Star Alliance, one of the world's largest global airline alliances. With its about 594 daily departures, SAS served more than 100 destinations around the globe in 2023. In that period, a fleet of 134 aircraft transported almost 24 million passengers. And with a market share of 29 percent, SAS is one of the leading airlines operating flights to, from, and within Scandinavia.
More than 85 destinations are served by Norwegian. In 2023, most of the company's revenue is generated by international flights to destinations in Europe, Northern Africa, the Middle East, Thailand, the Caribbean, and the United States. Those destinations are reached with the airlines' 87 aircraft.
The Icelandair Group is also responsible for domestic and regional flights, including flights within Iceland, to Greenland, and to Scotland with aircraft from Icelandair and Air Iceland. The passenger air transportation, air cargo in Iceland generated over 319 billion Icelandic krona in revenue in 2023.
The leading airlines in the region are Scandinavian Airlines, Norwegian Air Shuttle, and Icelandair, which belongs to the Icelandair Group. All these companies are based in Scandinavia. Other minor airlines are the Norwegian Widerøe, Sweden's Novair, TUIfly Nordic, and the Denmark-based Thomas Cook Airlines Scandinavia. Atlantic Airways, based on the Faroe Islands, and Air Greenland also operate in the region. The Icelandic low-cost carrier WOW air ceased its operation in March 2019. A new low-cost airline operating under the name Play airlines was established in Iceland in June 2019 and began operations in 2021.
Scandinavian Airlines
The perhaps best-known airline in Scandinavia is Scandinavian Airlines, widely referred to as SAS. The Swedish, Danish, and Norwegian governments each hold major shares in the company, which has its headquarters in Stockholm, Sweden. The main hubs of Scandinavian Airlines are the airports of Stockholm-Arlanda, Copenhagen-Kastrup, and Oslo-Gardermoen. The airline operates domestic flights within Sweden, Denmark, and Norway and international flights within Europe to North America, the Middle East, and Asia.Scandinavian Airlines is a member of Star Alliance, one of the world's largest global airline alliances. With its about 594 daily departures, SAS served more than 100 destinations around the globe in 2023. In that period, a fleet of 134 aircraft transported almost 24 million passengers. And with a market share of 29 percent, SAS is one of the leading airlines operating flights to, from, and within Scandinavia.
Norwegian Air Shuttle
As the name indicates, Norwegian is a Norway-based low-cost airline and one of the most profitable airlines in the Nordics. The headquarters are located in Fornebu, Norway. In addition to Norway, the airline has several operating bases in Sweden, Denmark, Finland, the United Kingdom, Spain, Thailand, the United States, Italy, and the French Caribbean.More than 85 destinations are served by Norwegian. In 2023, most of the company's revenue is generated by international flights to destinations in Europe, Northern Africa, the Middle East, Thailand, the Caribbean, and the United States. Those destinations are reached with the airlines' 87 aircraft.
Icelandair Group
The Icelandair Group serves connections within the country and to North America and continental Europe. With its central location, Iceland is a convenient hub for flights between Europe and North America, turning Iceland and Keflavik International Airport into a popular stopover destination. In 2023, the Icelandair Group employed roughly 3,640 full-time employees, of which about 1,900 were employees of the subsidiary airline Icelandair. The revenue of the Icelandair Group is mainly generated by passenger transportation, with a revenue of 1.3 billion U.S. dollars reported in 2023.The Icelandair Group is also responsible for domestic and regional flights, including flights within Iceland, to Greenland, and to Scotland with aircraft from Icelandair and Air Iceland. The passenger air transportation, air cargo in Iceland generated over 319 billion Icelandic krona in revenue in 2023.
