Norwegian Air is the low-cost long-haul carrier that could. The airline reported a net profit of 1.3 billion Norwegian kroner ($156 million) in the third quarter—up from 1.1 billion in the same quarter last year—on a 33% increase in revenue. Like many other carriers, Norwegian recorded an increase in costs due to rising fuel prices, a variable that will continue to loom over their future success, as well as that of their competitors.
But in terms of passenger growth, it would be inaccurate to say Norwegian is doing anything other than smashing it. Thanks to offering improbably cheap, no-frills fares on fuel-efficient planes—to an ever-expanding number of destinations, most recently a London-to-Buenos Aires route—the airline has seen a remarkable takeoff in passenger numbers since its founding, to more than 36 million in the year to September.