Olso based Norse Atlantic Airways, a new low-fares transatlantic airline, has confirmed it has been awarded slots for Gatwick Airport (LGW/EGKK) as it eyes a market left by Norwegian Long Haul at the airport.
Norse had planned to start operations in 2021 but has currently delayed its initial launch until June this year citing ongoing uncertainty with the Ukraine crisis and rising fuel prices.
It is expected that they will announce the first routes in the coming weeks which are expected to be from Norway to the US East Coast with flights from London starting later in the year.
The airline currently has a fleet of 9 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, 4 of which are currently being sub-leased to Air Europa to boost cash flow for the airline.
CEO and Founder Bjørn Tore Larsen said “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,”
Norse says that it has secured enough pilots and cabin crew for the initial routes and has established a pilot base in Oslo and a cabin crew base in Fort Lauderdale, giving perhaps a clue to the initial destination. The airline will establish more bases as the airline grows.
Larsen added: “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,”