Start-up airline Norse Atlantic Airways has been granted an Air Operator's Certificate by the Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority, paving the way for the launch of transatlantic flights this spring.
The airline plans to operate routes from Oslo, London and Paris to New York, Los Angeles and Florida, and received its first aircraft, a B787-9 Dreamliner, in late December. In total, its fleet will number 15 B787 aircraft.
The company was founded in March last year by CEO and major shareholder Bjørn Tore Larsen shortly after Norwegian Air Shuttle ceased long-haul operations. Bjørn Kjos, the founder and former CEO of Norwegian, has a minority stake in Norse.
“We would like to thank Norway’s Civil Aviation Authority for a constructive and professional process. We are now one important step closer to launching our attractive and affordable flights between Europe and the US,” said Larsen.
“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,” Larsen added.
“We’ve had a good and constructive dialogue with Norse throughout the process of issuing a Norwegian AOC. We wish them the best of luck and look forward to a continued fruitful relationship going forward,” added director general of the Civil Aviation Authorities of Norway, Lars E. de Lange Kobberstad.