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right time, Norse has adjusted its launch of ticket sales and initial route
offering; the company plans ticket sales to commence in April and first flight
is expected to be in June 2022. At the same time, the Company has secured
important slots at London Gatwick Airport.
“The tragedy unfolding in Ukraine creates uncertainties within international air
transport that we take seriously. Norse’s flexible fleet arrangements, low cost
base and strong financial foundation allow us to take a careful approach to
launch. We are in a unique position as we have not yet started flying, which
gives us the advantage to enter the market cautiously in line with demand and
quickly adapt to unforeseen events. A gradual approach where ramp-up is
exclusively driven by demand, will enable us to preserve our strong, debt-free
balance sheet and cost base,” said CEO and Founder Bjørn Tore Larsen of Norse.
Norse intends to commence flights in June, flying between Norway and select
destinations in the U.S. It plans to add other European destinations, such as
Paris and London, as soon as the market situation allows. Recently securing
important slots at London Gatwick Airport gives the airline access to one of the
most attractive markets in Europe. The slots were awarded to Norse at no cost by
the UK airport slots coordinator.
“We’re thrilled to have been awarded slots to operate flights to and from London
Gatwick Airport as it gives us access to a very attractive market. We look
forward to working closely with the great team at Gatwick Airport,” Larsen
said.
The route network will be announced when ticket sales are launched.
“We have the necessary flexibility to quickly adapt to unforeseen events and
ramp up with more aircraft and affordable flights to exciting destinations as
soon as the market situation allows. A highly motivated Team Norse and the fact
that we currently only pay for our aircraft when they are in operation also
gives us a competitive advantage,” Larsen added.
“The current global situation makes it challenging to predict the demand for
transatlantic travel. However, we strongly believe that the demand will bounce
-back with full force because 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 and fuel
-efficient Boeing 787 Dreamliners to both leisure and cost-conscious business
travelers,” Larsen said.
Pilot and cabin crew recruitment
Norse has secured pilots and cabin crew sufficient for the initial routes. A
pilot base has been established in Oslo and the first cabin crew base has been
established in Fort Lauderdale. Training of the pilot and cabin crew instructors
has commenced with a steady ramp-up planned for crew to start to ensure that
Norse only takes on crew cost immediately before take-off. The company has also
started cabin crew recruitment in Oslo and will establish crew bases in several
locations in line with increased operation.
Norse has signed collective bargaining agreements with pilot and cabin crew
unions in Norway, the US and UK.
Dreamliner fleet
Norse has a fleet of modern, more environmentally friendly and fuel-efficient
Boeing 787 Dreamliners. The Company has taken delivery of nine aircraft that are
currently parked at Oslo Airport. The remaining six will be delivered
consecutively in the coming months. The company will start utilizing its fleet
cautiously and gradually add capacity in line with demand.
Norse received its Air Operator Certificate by Norway’s Civil Aviation Authority
in December 2021. The airline received a foreign air carrier permit from the
U.S. Department of Transportation in January.
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