10 | UPDATES


IN March, Norwegian had 1,587,550 passengers, while Widerøe had 328,385 passengers, totalling 1,915,935 for the group. The capacity increased by 13 percent for Norwegian, while Widerøe had a 9 percent increase in capacity compared to March 2024.


“I am pleased that we are continuing the strong momentum with our operational performance in Norwegian, something that is critical as we start our summer programme. March is the last month of the low season, and we look forward to a busy Easter travel period,” said Geir Karlsen, CEO of Norwegian. Norwegian’s capacity (ASK) in March was 2,770 million seat kilometres, up 13 percent from last year. Actual passenger traffic (RPK) for Norwegian was 2,245 million seat kilometres, up 8 percent. The load factor was 81.1 percent, down 3,9 percentage points from the same period last year. The reduction is mainly caused by the 2024 Easter holidays falling in March, as well as a significant capacity increase. Norwegian operated an average of 77 aircraft during March. Widerøe’s capacity (ASK) in March was 168


www.nitravelnews.com Norwegian Group had 1.9 Million Passengers in March


April/May 2025


easyJet Launch First Flights and Holidays to Reus


million seat kilometres, up 9 percent from last year. The actual passenger traffic (RPK) for Widerøe was 119 million seat kilometres, while the load factor was 70.7 percent, up 0.3 percentage points. Norwegian


and Widerøe’s


punctuality,


defined as share of flights departing within 15 minutes of scheduled time, was 88.1 percent and 80.7 percent respectively. Regularity, measured by the share of scheduled flights taking place, was 99.4 percent for Norwegian and 95.5 percent for Widerøe.


THE new weekly service – providing customers in Northern Ireland with even more fantastic summer break destinations across Europe – took off on Saturday 5 April, and will operate every Tuesday and Saturday throughout the peak summer holidays.


Famous as the birthplace of the legendary architect Antoni Gaudí, known for designing Barcelona’s beautiful basilica Sagrada Familia, Reus offers a mix of modernist architecture, cultural


landmarks, and culinary delights. Whether it’s exploring the nearby picturesque seaside towns of Tarragona and Sitges, basking on the Costa Dorada’s pristine beaches, or uncovering Reus’s renowned cultural heritage, this charming city has something on offer for everyone. Tour operator easyJet holidays also has a range of package holidays from Belfast to Reus on offer, right up until 31 October 2026.


Air Canada Foundation and Air Canada Celebrate the First Autism Aviation Days Event of the Year in Edmonton


AIR Canada and the Air Canada Foundation


have partnered with


Edmonton International Airport (YEG) and Autism Edmonton to host Autism Aviation Day at YEG. This is the first of a series of planned special Autism Aviation events Air Canada will host across the country in 2025.


This event aims to provide a supportive environment where children on the spectrum can familiarise themselves with elements of air travel involving the entire pre-flight process, helping to ease anxiety and build confidence for future journeys — not only for the children but also for their parents. Air Canada has also donated a row of aircraft seats to Edmonton International


Airport’s new Sensory Room, which aims to offer respite for neurodivergent passengers, including those with autism, anxiety or other sensory processing challenges. “Autism Aviation Days are more than


just practice runs — they’re a gateway to confidence,” says Rebecca Smillie-Nedelec, Director, Community Engagement at Air Canada. “For many families, the opportunity to practice the airport and flight process in a supportive and flexible environment can make their future air travel dreams a reality. These events have a lasting impact, helping children feel more comfortable and ultimately improving the quality of life for families who may have otherwise avoid flying.”


TUI Opens First Hotel Sensory Rooms with Package Holidays Available from Belfast!!


such as soft lighting, interactive sensory equipment or quiet zones to encourage relaxation and make holidays more enjoyable for the whole family.


TUI is enhancing its commitment to accessible travel by introducing its first-ever hotel sensory rooms this summer, designed to support neurodivergent guests and their families.


The TUI BLUE Nausicaa Beach in Larnaca, Cyprus will open on 15th April, followed closely by the TUI BLUE Aura, Ibiza which will open on 1st May.


Sensory rooms are specially designed spaces that provide a calming,


low-stimulation


environment for guests who may feel overwhelmed by busy or unfamiliar surroundings. They feature elements


In addition to the new sensory rooms, the two hotels will have enhanced neurodiversity awareness training for all frontline staff within the property. Within the kids’ club rooms, they will also introduce ‘Now and Next’ boards to allow children to understand the flow of a session and to be clear about what is coming next. The clubs will also introduce revised communication cards that will allow children to clearly communicate their wants and needs with the Kids’ Club hosts.


The new sensory rooms will be open for summer 2025 and will be able for guests to use throughout their stay.


‘On a Midday Plane to


Georgia…’ EASYJET celebrated its first flight taking off to the Georgian capital Tbilisi from London Luton Airport, last week. The inaugural flight departed on time


at 12:25 for the very first time to the airline’s newest network destination and is scheduled to arrive into Georgia at 20:25 local time.


The new city link is already proving popular with customers, who are choosing to explore Tiblisi as a new city break destination and as a gateway to discover more of Georgia.


The new service will continue to operate twice a week on Tuesdays and Saturdays throughout the summer season.


The airline has also launched new routes to Tbilisi from Geneva and Milan Malpensa this year.


Tbilisi offers an untapped, affordable city break and a rich blend of history, diverse architecture, and culture. The city’s picturesque Old Town streets, historic sulphur baths, and a lively arts scene, alongside opportunities to sample traditional


Georgian cuisine


and award-winning wines mean it’s a new destination to rival the more traditional staples.


Belfast International Launches Summer Season


WITH a newly launched schedule offering a wide range of destinations across GB, Europe and beyond, Belfast International Airport is your gateway to that summer escape.


The new schedule includes holiday getaway favourites Alicante, Malaga, Faro, Palma de Mallorca, Dalaman and more. Kaunas is a new destination for summer 2025 with Ryanair while Reus is a new route on offer from EasyJet and your perfect base to travel around the Costa Dorada region. For the first time, Jet2 is offering holidays to the stunning Costa de la Luz region via Faro Airport.


Summer is one of the busiest periods of


the year with many airlines increasing flight frequencies for the season. This schedule


has been developed in close partnership with airlines and tour operators to meet the growing demand for travel, boosting connectivity for Northern Ireland. The £100 million investment in the terminal is already delivering significant benefits enhancing customer experience, including a state-of-the-art security hall, a new arrivals area and exterior building finish. Our next phase will see the completion of an immersive duty-free experience that celebrates unique heritage of Northern Ireland, offering everything from a local whiskey apothecary to top international brands such as Rituals and MINISO. Belfast International Airport looks forward to welcoming all our passengers to guarantee an unforgettable summer of travel.


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