Low cost Scandinavian carrier Norwegian Airlines has announced the creation of two new flight routes to Lanzarote. With direct services from Stockholm and Billund adding to the existing routes between Oslo, Bergen and Lanzarote.

Routes between Lanzarote and the Scandinavian countries of Norway and Sweden are to be strengthened, as the Society for the External Promotion of Lanzarote (SPEL) looks to increase the number of visitors coming to the island from these two countries.

A meeting between the SPEL, the Tourist Board and Norwegian Airlines was held on Wednesday 2nd March to discuss increasing the number of flights to Lanzarote and connections between the island and several Scandinavian cities.

In addition to regular connections between Oslo, Bergen and Lanzarote, there will also be new direct flights from Stockholm and Billund. Norwegian Airlines operate as a low cost carrier, but they also sell their flights via tour operators as well, so developing the relationship with this airline is an important strategy in growing the number of tourists visiting from Scandinavia.

The tourist markets of Sweden and Norway are held in high esteem by local politicians, as the Scandinavian visitor tends to spend more money during their holiday and Lanzarote has long been a popular destination amongst this group of travelers. During 2010, 34,748 Norwegians came to Lanzarote, whilst 27,536 Swedes took their holidays here. Swedish and Norwegian visitors were amongst the first foreign tourists to flock to Lanzarote when it´s tourist industry really took off in the 1970's and 1980's.