Shakeout for Europe’s low-cost airlines

By Bjorn Fehrm October 11, 2016, ©. Leeham Co: Alitalia, Air Berlin and now Monarch have all filed for insolvency since the start of 2017. These are all airlines with an emphasis on low cost flying, with an important… Read More

Eurowings’ costs compared with the competition

By Bjorn Fehrm Subscription Required Introduction August 31, 2017, © Leeham Co.: We presented Lufthansa Group’s LCC, Eurowings, yesterday. It’s an amalgamation of different companies; some started out as LCCs (Germanwings), others, the remains of defunct Legacies (Brussels… Read More

Is Norwegian in trouble? Part 2

By Bjorn Fehrm July 19, 2017, © Leeham Co.: Last week we raised the question if Norwegian Air Shuttle was in trouble. The CFO, Frode Foss, left a few days earlier. Analysts were worried and the stock dived… Read More

Is Norwegian in trouble?

By Bjorn Fehrm July 11, 2017, © Leeham Co.: In our review of Norwegian Air Shuttle (Norwegian) the 8 of February, we pointed out the company’s ambitious fleet expansion plans with a rather weak balance sheet. We followed… Read More

NMA “important step” for Boeing, says leading lessor

March 9, 2017, © Leeham Co.: Proceeding with a New Mid-range Airplane (NMA) is “an important step for Boeing,” says the CEO of one of the world’s preeminent leasing companies. On the other hand, Airbus probably is covered… Read More

CSeries trans-Atlantic capability

By Bjorn Fehrm Subscription Required Introduction February 23, 2017, © Leeham Co.: We previously described how new generation engines make the Boeing 737 MAX 8 a trans-Atlantic aircraft. The MAX 8 is smaller than the Airbus A321LR, but… Read More

Ryanair: cheapest and most profitable airline in Europe

By Bjorn Fehrm February 22, 2017, ©. Leeham Co: Ryanair is Europe’s airline with the lowest fares. And it’s the most profitable, despite growing faster than even the Middle East carriers (growth needs money). It’s time to dive deep… Read More

Norwegian’s risky fleet expansion

By Bjorn Fehrm Subscription Required Introduction February 15, 2017, © Leeham Co.: In our review of Norwegian Air Shuttle last week (Norwegian from now on), we pointed out the company’s relatively weak balance sheet. It’s considerably weaker than… Read More

Trans-Atlantic for $75, does it work?

By Bjorn Fehrm Subscription Required Introduction February 9, 2017, © Leeham Co.: Norwegian will start trans-Atlantic flying between Edinburgh and New England for $75 one-way in late spring when it gets its Boeing 737 MAX 8. The introductory… Read More

Norwegian, from regional to mainline competitor

By Bjorn Fehrm Introduction February 8, 2017, ©. Leeham Co: When SAS (Scandinavian Airlines Systems) canceled Norwegian Air Shuttle’s (NAS) contract to feed its Norwegian network 2002, it had no idea the former feeder would almost run it out… Read More