It’s been a busy end of 2021 for startup Norse Atlantic Airways. It has taken delivery of its first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner and received its air operator’s certificate (AOC) from The Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority.
The two events mean the airline is on schedule to start commercial operations in spring 2022 with the first flights connecting Oslo to select cities in the U.S.
The low cost, long haul carrier plans to use a uniform fleet of Boeing 787 aircraft, secured on long-term leases at favourable terms, on historically profitable routes between major US and European cities.
Current plans are to fly between Oslo and New York, Los Angeles and Miami. Flights will operate to secondary airports in the U.S.
That means Fort Lauderdale for the Miami area, New York Stewart for the New York area and Ontario for the Los Angeles area.
- Fort Lauderdale Airport (FLL) is about 28 miles north of Miami Beach.
- New York Stewart (SWF) is about 60 miles north of Manhattan.
- Ontario (ONT) is about 38 mi east of downtown Los Angeles.
Future routes are likely to be from London and Paris to the U.S. destinations.
Norse’s first aircraft is a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner and is leased from BOC Aviation. Norse’s planned fleet of aircraft consists of 12 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners and three Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners. The next deliveries will continue until April and all aircraft will be initially based at Oslo Airport.
The aircraft lease is at attractive rates and payment terms, allowing the Company a flexible implementation during start-up of its operation, with Norse only paying on a “power by the hour” basis at the outset.
Bjørn Tore Larsen, CEO and founder of Norse Atlantic Airways:
“The delivery of our first Dreamliner marks an important milestone for us at Team Norse as it brings us one step closer to the launch of attractive and affordable transatlantic flights.”
“We believe that transatlantic travel will resume with full force once the pandemic is behind us. People will want to explore new destinations, visit friends and family and travel for business.
“Norse will be there to offer attractive and affordable flights on our more environmentally friendly Dreamliners to both the leisure and cost-conscious business traveler.”
N.B. Image credit: Norse Atlantic
