Widerøe Will Resume Flights To Liverpool Airport Next Summer

After a three-year break, Scandinavian regional carrier Widerøe is set to return to Liverpool John Lennon Airport on March 31.

Taking off on Mondays and Fridays, the twice-weekly departures will connect the city with Bergen using the carrier’s Embraer E190-E2 jets.

Tourism booster

The route is expected to prove a popular choice for Norwegian football fans, providing a direct connection for matches across Liverpool and Manchester for the football season. However, the route’s focus appears to be on increasing tourism within Norway, with the carrier describing the fixed Monday and Friday frequencies as ideal for a short weekend break to the country.

“After two challenging years with severe international travel restrictions, we are extremely happy to share the news that we are returning to Liverpool,” noted Widerøe commercial director Christian Skaug.

“We have high hopes for this route, both for travelers from Norway to Liverpool and for the “Merseysiders” to further discover Norway and Bergen. The route is tailor made for excellent onwards connections into the famous Norwegian fjords and the breathtaking scenery of the north.”

Photo: Widerøe

Widerøe is the third carrier to launch operations at Liverpool John Lennon Airport this year, following Lufthansa and PLAY Airlines in May and October, bolstering the region’s connectivity.

The launch of the Liverpool service will become Widerøe’s second UK-bound flight alongside London Heathrow Airport. The route also shares the unique distinction of being the 25th direct European destination for Liverpool.

Winter is coming

While Widerøe looks towards an optimistic 2023, in its October results posted on Wednesday, the carrier has expressed concerns over the impact of skyrocketing fuel prices and a weakened Krone, creating a tougher market through winter. In October, Widerøe carried 303,000 passengers, a 2% increase on the same period in 2021, but down 7,000 from its yearly record month in September.

Currently, the carrier has hedged 60% of its fuel through 2023, though it has begun scaling down services ahead of an expected reduction in demand for the season.

The reduced demand is not expected to last, with Widerøe picking up capacity from March ahead of a predicted busy summer. On top of its Liverpool service, the carrier will be adding three new routes to destinations across Europe. The airline has celebrated the added connections, with commercial director Christian Skaug adding that Widerøe should now be offering something for everyone.

Bergen to Hamburg will launch on March 30, offering three weekly flights on Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday, with an additional Tuesday flight launching in May.

At the end of March, the carrier is set to add capacity to its established Billund services, upping from twice a week to daily.

In April, Widerøe will add Dublin and Munich to its growing network. The carrier will offer twice-weekly flights to both destinations, with Thursday and Sunday flights for Dublin and Monday and Friday flights for Munich.

What are your thoughts on Widerøe’s new Bergen-Liverpool service? Will you be flying with the airline next summer? Let us know in the comments.