Norwegian will launch a new year-round route between London Gatwick and Billund in Denmark on 30 June.
There will be six departures a week during the summer, dropping to five a week in the winter.
The announcement of the new route comes after Ryanair said it was closing its Billund base in response to the Danish Government introducing an aviation tax of up to DKK 50 per departing passenger (about £5.55) from January 2025, coupled with Billund’s failure to agree a competitive long-term agreement’.
Ryanair’s Stansted-Billund service will cease at the end of this month.
Sara Neergaard, Head of Communications and Public Affairs at Norwegian Denmark said: “Norwegian and Billund Airport have been close partners for many years, and we have long considered the airport to have great growth potential for us.
“With Ryanair’s exit, we now see a unique opportunity to strengthen our presence at Billund Airport and Western Denmark. The new route to London Gatwick is the first step, and we are continuously looking at the possibility of expanding our offer from Billund further.”
Gatwick Airlines Relations Manager Jennifer Newman said: “We are very pleased to welcome Norwegian’s new, direct, year-round route connecting London Gatwick with Billund.
“The route offers crucial accessibility for both business and leisure travellers and contributes to London Gatwick’s impressive network across Europe and further afield.”
Flights will operate every day except Saturdays during the summer holidays, departing Gatwick at 14:35, arriving Billund at 16:10; and departing Billund at 17:10, arriving Gatwick at 18:55. After that, flights will continue year-round five days a week, on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
To mark the route, Legoland Billund is offering free entry for children flying with Norwegian from Gatwick.
