Norse Atlantic Airways is gearing up for the launch of affordable transatlantic flights, with the aim of opening ticket sales by March, and operating their first commercial flight between Oslo and the U.S. during the second quarter of 2022.
On Friday (February 4, 2022), Norse Atlantic Airways announced that they plan on opening ticket sales by March and launching their first commercial transatlantic flight between Oslo and the U.S. during the second quarter of 2022. In response to their initial 50 pilot positions based in Oslo, Norse Atlantic has received over 3,000 applications, and pilot training has already started. Norse Atlantic’s first cabin crew base will be established in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and training for the first class of over 400 team members will start in a few weeks. Cabin crew bases in other cities will be established as the carrier ramps up operations. Norse has also signed collective bargaining agreements in Norway, the U.S. and the UK.
In Friday’s announcement, Norse Atlantic Airways’ CEO, Bjørn Tore Larsen, said,
“Future customers and supporters on both sides of the Atlantic are reaching out to us every day asking about when they can start buying tickets, when we will be airborne and not least what routes we will be offering. We are thrilled about the interest in the market and can confirm that our goal is to launch ticket sales by the end of March and our first flight to take off in the second quarter. The first flight will depart from Oslo to a U.S. destination. We are working on finalizing our route network and look forward to announcing our destinations when we open for sale.
“Our people will be our competitive advantage. We are building a high-performance culture and creating an environment where we value diversity, ensuring that all colleagues feel a sense of belonging. We are very pleased with the colleagues we have recruited so far. 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 Boeing 787 Dreamliners to both leisure and cost-conscious business travelers.”
Norse Atlantic Airways will operate a fleet of modern, state-of-the-art Boeing 787 Dreamliners. So far, the carrier has taken delivery of four aircraft which are currently parked at Oslo Airport. The remaining 11 aircraft will be delivered consecutively over the next few months.
Founded in March 2021 by CEO and major shareholder Bjørn Tore Larsen, Norse Atlantic Airways’ vision is to be ‘The Explorer Airline’, offering affordable transatlantic flights. The carrier is building a high performance culture where diversity is valued and all team members feel a sense of belonging. Norse plans on working smarter, better and faster than their competitors, while leveraging their unique Team Norse culture to deliver an exceptional guest experience. The company’s head office is located in Arendal, Norway, with a second office in London. Once all 15 Boeing 787 Dreamliners are delivered, the company expects to employ a dedicated group of 1,600 team members, both on the ground and in the air. Norse Atlantic will operate long-haul routes primarily between Europe and the U.S., with service to destinations including New York, Florida, Paris, London and Oslo, among others.
Source: Norse Atlantic Airways/Cision