Trondheim

Opportunities for airlines

“Trondheim has a whole heap going for it,” as the author of a Forbes article puts it. In line with this reputation, Trondheim has seen a growing share of leisure travel. Contributing factors are Trondheim’s new popularity as a food destination, its rich Viking history and comprehensive programmes from the tourism agencies as well as Avinor to boost leisure travel from various markets.

A growing immigrant population and VFR segment lead to regular traffic, as does a vibrant tech start-up and business scene that is growing exponentially. Growth sectors include construction, technology and aquaculture.

These developments lead to long-term route opportunities – please don’t hesitate to contact us for more data and background!

Trondheim in depth

With its new motto “Trondheim – Home of Nordic Flavours," the tourism agencies are setting the tone: new products and itineraries are being developed to attract tourists from the US, Europe and Asia. The latest project: Avinor and Visit Norway just started a big cooperation with Chinese tour operators to increase incoming tourism from Asia.

Speaking of flavours: In 2019, two Trondheim restaurants were awarded Michelin Stars. Now, at the the Michelin Guide Nordic Countries 2020 Event in Trondheim, Britannia Hotel’s newly opened signature restaurant Speilsalen (“Hall of Mirrors”) and Chef Christopher Davidsen did Trondheim proud once again by securing yet another star. Considerable press interest in these accolades has significantly raised Trondheim’s national and international profile. The city now has a strong culinary voice, thanks to Davidsen and sustainability trailblazers such as Heidi Bjerkan, owner and Chef at Michelin Star restaurant Credo. Heidi also received the first Michelin Nordic Guide Sustainability Award for her close cooperation with local farms, and her sustainable handling of raw materials and unused resources.

Source: Visit Trondheim

Photographer: Peter van der Muelen

While nature is still a major driving force for tourism in Trondheim, with its nearby fjords and mountains, the food segment has started to blossom, attracting new visitors. Trondheim has also recently been recognised as European Region of Gastronomy 2022, with a primary focus on stimulating creativity and gastronomic innovation, developing sustainable tourism, educating and recruiting the younger generation, and supporting local economies. As these developments are relatively new, we expect to see a positive impact on tourism within the next year.

However, the word “flavours” does not end with food. The Trondheim flavours also include a fusion of rich Viking history, technology & research, sustainability initiatives, beautiful fjords and mountain ranges, and a buzzing student body due to the university (NTNU), Norway’s largest. The slogan “Home of Nordic Flavours” has attracted locals and regional businesses who would all like to develop a strong identity. The combination of these special characteristics and positive developments have led to a new class of tourism.

A shining example for the development of the region is the re-opening of the historical Britannia hotel – now Five Stars. This luxury hotel has been refurbished with supreme detail in both design and service, distinguishing itself through its rich history and classy vibe. The Britannia Hotel has become part of “The Leading Hotels of The World”, an exclusive organisation representing the most prestigious hotels in the world.

These trends and developments all point to a bright future for leisure travel – a hidden gem waiting to be uncovered, attracting a diverse mix of people to Trondheim and the region.

Business as unusual: a vibrant tech start-up scene

A crucial thing to know about Trondheim’s business scene is that it is very diverse. More than ten large business sectors keep the region economically stable: a crisis in one industry won’t affect the overall performance of the region because it does not rely on one sector.

Another essential factor is contributing to the present market as well as developments in the near future. Trondheim is a tech region: with the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) and the international private research institution SINTEF, two world-class technology-oriented organisations are located in the city. This is one of the reasons for Trondheim’s vibrant tech start-up scene.

Most of these companies are active in the information and communications technology (ICT) sector. The goal is to bring the number of tech businesses up to 1,000 and people employed in the tech sector to 20,000 by the year 2025, and given the exponential rise in start-ups, Trondheim is well on its way to achieving this objective.

What do these developments mean for air traffic? Which route opportunities will prove profitable? Please contact us to find out more and discuss data and opportunities!