Since the financial crisis led to a downturn in air traffic in 2009, the market has again grown strongly. In 2011, there were 18.4 million single journeys by air between Norway and international destinations and 14.2 million single domestic journeys. This represents an annual growth of 11.8 percent (international) and 6.3 percent (domestic) for the period 2009-2011, a report from the Institute of Transport Economics shows.
According to the report, every Norwegian had on average 2.6 domestic trips in 2011. People in the northernmost county Finnmark are the ones that use planes most often, with an average of 7.5 domestic trips last year.
The route between the capital of Oslo and Kirkenes in Finnmark has had the largest growth since 1993 with an annual traffic growth of 8.8 percent. The number of work-related trips on the route has grown most, especially during the last three years. This route had 180 000 passengers in 2011.
The oil and gas industry is a major drive in Norwegian domestic air travel. In 2011 there were 1.8 million domestic air trips connected to this sector. Every fourth work-related domestic air trip Norwegians took last year was connected to the oil and gas industry.
