Gardermoen courts easyJet
Oslo's Gardermoen International Airport (OSL) will submit an application Wednesday which they hope will attract the budget carrier easyJet to Norway before the end of the year. Passengers may cheer, but the news could mean another tough competitor for troubled airline SAS.
"After a long period of dialogue with easyJet we will send a new application to the company today. With luck we can welcome them as early as our winter schedule this year," OSL marketing chief Knut Staebekk told Aftenposten.
Airline easyJet, Europe's larget budget carrier, has had a week-long advertising campaign to attract bids from potential airports eager to help the growing giant establish themselves in new ports.
Avinor, which owns and runs 45 airports in Norway, including OSL, is also eager to talk with easyJet and wants them to fly from Bergen and Trondheim as well.
Press contact Samantha Day at easyJet headquarters in Luton, England, said that the company had made no decisions about opening a base in Norway, but that if they did domestic flights would only begin in the long run.
SAS boss Soeren Belin told Aftenposten earlier this year that the entry of a company like easyJet into the Norwegian market would be the "worst thing possible".
The easyJet model of low prices and heavy traffic to major capitals makes the airline attractive both to individuals and corporations.
"We are prepared for the arrival of new competitors and we wish them welcome, but that is on the assumption that they will not receive better conditions that we do," said SAS press spokeswoman Siv Meisingseth.