October 28, 2026 — Norwegian posted a third-quarter operating profit of NOK 2.7 billion (about $289 million) on October 28, beating the NOK 2.3 billion analysts expected, but the airline is cutting planned capacity for early 2027 because of high fuel prices and uncertainty in the Middle East.
What happened
Norwegian said demand grew strongly across its markets into the peak summer season, and that ticket sales and load factors are running ahead of last year. Unit costs rose 8% year over year, and FlightGlobal reported that yields and fuel costs remain under pressure.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Q3 operating profit | NOK 2.7 billion (~$289 million) |
| Analyst expectation | NOK 2.3 billion |
| Winter monthly capacity | Cut 25% to 40% compared with October |
| Q1 2027 planned capacity | Cut by more than 5% |
| Full-year 2026 capacity growth | About 2% |
| 2027 capacity growth | Around 5% |
| Fleet | Set to grow to about 100 aircraft (timing TBA) |
What it means for non-revs
- Fewer flights this winter: Norwegian is flying 25–40% less per month than in October, so there are fewer daily options to roll to if you miss a flight.
- Fuller planes: Load factors are tracking ahead of last year, and the extra Q1 2027 cut removes more seats. Expect tighter standby chances through early 2027.
- Plan ahead: Check loads early and have a backup carrier for Nordic trips over the holidays and into the first quarter.
Sources
- RTÉ News: Norwegian Air beats profit estimates on high demand
- FlightGlobal: Norwegian trims winter capacity after profits hold steady in third quarter
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