While airline SAS and Norwegian continue their intense competition on major routes in Norway, little Dash 8 propellor planes buzz around the country’s smallest airports like regional buses in the air. Meet Norway’s regional carrier, Widerøe.
Many of the flights last just half an hour or less, connecting places that would otherwise take many hours to travel between. Although many are contracted public service obligation routes, the airline has recently taken delivery of three Embraer E190-E2 jets to operate more competitive routes, such as Bergen to Tromsø via Trondheim.
Sightseeing from the air
Because of the short flight times, the planes fly low, often revealing a stunning perspective on Norway’s natural landscape that you can’t get any other way. It’s also a handy way to see some of the country’s smaller communities that are otherwise only accessible by a lengthy road journey or the Hurtigruten coastal ferry.
There’s only one downside. The fares are often expensive, especially at short notice. The one exception to that rule comes each summer, when locals disappear on vacation freeing up significant spare capacity. Widerøe’s solution? An all-you-can-fly ticket.
One ticket, unlimited flying
The Explore Norway ticket offers unlimited flights around Widerøe’s extensive Norwegian route network for a two-week period during July and August. Seats on each flight are limited, but availability tends to be good on most routes especially if you plan your itinerary at least a few weeks in advance. Best of all? The ticket starts from just $435.
That $435 buys you two weeks of flights in one of the three zones, with all taxes and even a 23kg/50lb checked bag included. You can also buy tickets for two-zones ($512), the whole country ($589) or add on an extra week ($255). The zone boundaries are at Trondheim and Tromsø. For those of you not familiar with Norway that breaks down as follows:
Southern Zone: Includes all four of Norway’s biggest cities: Oslo, Bergen, Stavanger and Trondheim. The fjord region is accessible via Sogndal, Sandane and Ørsta/Volda, as are the watery cities of Ålesund and Kristiansund. If you buy a ticket covering the southern zone, connecting flights to and from one of Widerøe’s limited international destinations is included. That makes this ticket an especially good deal for those living in England, Scotland, Denmark, Germany and southern Sweden.
Central-North Zone: The zone between Trondheim and Tromsø includes those two cities along with the islands of Lofoten and Vesterålen. Bodø is a key hub within the region.
North-East Zone: Many tiny communities in Norway’s vast Finnmark region are included in this zone. Tromsø is the biggest urban area, with Alta and Hammerfest other towns of note. Honningsvåg is a popular stop for visitors heading to the North Cape.
Know before you book
Before you rush out and book a ticket, there are a few conditions to be aware of. You can only take four trips between the same two city pairs. This is presumably to stop locals using the deal for regular trips and filling up capacity. It’s possible to change your itinerary at any time using the Widerøe website, as long as it’s at least two hours before a departure. Your first flight (and therefore your specific two-week period) cannot be changed though.
Frequent flyer points chasers should also be aware Widerøe has closed a loophole that saw Explore Norway ticket-holders rewarded for every segment they flew. The airline offers SAS Eurobonus points on regular flights, but passengers buying an Explore Norway ticket receive a fixed amount of points instead. Despite the change, the 3,460 points awarded for the one-zone ticket remains generous.
While this is a rare case of everything being included in an advertised fare, there are additional costs to be aware of outside of Widerøe’s control. As Norway is one of the world’s most expensive countries to visit, the cost of ground transportation to and from the airport can quickly add up. This is especially true in the smaller communities where only taxis are available. Still, this ticket has to be up there with one of the best travel bargains in Europe, if not the world.
