Norwegian to Cut 123 Copenhagen Jobs while Maintaining Summer Flights

Norwegian will cut 123 jobs at Copenhagen Airport. The cuts include 53 pilots and 70 cabin crew members. The airline is reducing its Copenhagen-based aircraft fleet. However, Norwegian will maintain its full summer flight schedule from Copenhagen. Some summer routes will be operated by aircraft based in Spain.

Most affected staff will leave at the end of January next year. The remaining departures will occur ten months later. The decision follows talks with the union Flyvebranchens Personale Union. Danish business outlet Finans first reported the negotiations and layoffs. Sara Neergaard is Norwegian's country manager in Denmark. She called the redundancies necessary due to seasonal demand shifts.

Norwegian operates 16 aircraft in Copenhagen during summer. In winter, the airline needs only 10 aircraft. The Copenhagen summer fleet will drop from 16 to 14 planes. Union Chair Thilde Waast accused Norwegian of undermining local working conditions. She said the airline is replacing Danish workers with cheaper Spanish labor. Neergaard stated the union rejected options like seasonal contracts and voluntary leave.

Copenhagen is Norwegian's second-largest base after Oslo. The airline served 77 destinations from Copenhagen last year. Norwegian carried 15 percent of Copenhagen Airport passengers last year. SAS carried 38 percent and Ryanair carried 9 percent.