Tag Archives: Norwegian Air

Norwegian closes its long-haul network, Gatwick jobs at stake, will focus on Europe and 737s

Norwegian has made a major decision to shut down its long-haul Boeing 787 Dreamliner network and concentrate on short-haul operations from Europe with this announcement:

Norwegian’s Board of Directors has outlined a simplified business structure and dedicated short haul route network. With this plan, Norwegian can build a robust and solid company that will attract investors and continue to serve new and existing customers.

Norwegian has long been recognized as an industry leader in low cost travel, winning numerous awards. The company will build on this foundation, focusing on its core Nordics business, operating a European short haul network with narrow body aircraft. The airline will continue to meet its customers’ needs by offering competitive fares across a broad range of domestic routes in Norway, across the Nordics and to key European destinations.

“Our short haul network has always been the backbone of Norwegian and will form the basis of a future resilient business model,” said Jacob Schram, CEO of Norwegian.

The current plan is to serve these markets with around 50 narrow body aircraft in operation in 2021 and to increase that number to around 70 narrow body aircraft in 2022. Furthermore, Norwegian targets to reduce its debt significantly to around NOK 20 billion and to raise NOK 4 – 5 billion in new capital through a combination of a rights issue to current shareholders, a private placement and a hybrid instrument. The company has received concrete interest in participation in the private placement. Norwegian has recently reinitiated a dialogue with the Norwegian government about possible state participation based on the new business plan.

The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly affected the entire aviation industry. Travel restrictions and changing government advice continue to negatively influence demand for long haul travel, and Norwegian’s entire Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet has been grounded since March 2020. Future demand remains highly uncertain. Under these circumstances a long haul operation is not viable for Norwegian and these operations will not continue. The consequence of this decision is that the board of directors of the legal entities employing primarily long haul staff in Italy, France, the UK and the US have contacted insolvency practitioners. Norwegian will continue to assess profitable opportunities as the world adapts and recovers from the impact of COVID-19.

Customers with bookings affected by the future changes in our route network will be contacted directly and will be refunded. The examinership and reconstruction processes undertaken in Ireland and Norway will continue as planned, and the plan presented today is subject to approval by the Examiner and Reconstructor, support from the creditors and subsequently court approval.

Norwegian Air Shuttle aircraft photo gallery:

Norwegian Air Shuttle aircraft slide show:

Norwegian Air calls for a special meeting on May 4 to discuss its future

Norwegian Air Shuttle (Norwegian Air) is basically in hibernation as its plans its future. The beleaguered airline has called for a special meeting on May 4, 2020.

At that meeting, the management of the company is expected to present a new restructuring plan that will see a much smaller airline if approved. Creditors will be asked to exchange debt for equity.

The company is also planning a hibernation phase that will last until next winter.

Norwegian to offer free WiFi on Boeing 787-9 and 737-8 MAX 8 fleet

Norwegian is upgrading the passenger experience with the introduction of inflight WiFi on its growing long-haul fleet of aircraft. As the first low-cost carrier to introduce free WiFi on intercontinental flights, Norwegian customers will be able to stay connected with the rollout of basic and premium high-speed WiFi connectivity on the carrier’s Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner and 737 MAX aircraft.

The first WiFi connected Norwegian Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft was delivered on December 18, 2018 (reg: G-CKWP) and features American author Mark Twain on its tailfin. The new aircraft has entered service, which marks the first time Norwegian passengers can experience free inflight WiFi for the full duration of long-haul flights.

Video:

Norwegian became the first carrier to offer free WiFi on all European routes in 2011 and the first European airline to successfully offer live television in the skies in 2015. Since 2013, Norwegian has rapidly grown to become a leading long-haul airline offering more than 60 long-haul routes between Europe, the United States, South America and Asia serviced by modern, state-of-the-art, fuel-efficient aircraft.

Norwegian Air’s US route map for the summer of 2019:

More than 50 percent of Norwegian’s 787-9 Dreamliner fleet is expected to offer in-flight connectivity by 2020. The rollout of WiFi on the airline’s Boeing 737 MAX aircraft will commence from mid-January 2019.

“We’re continuously improving the inflight customer experience and we’re delighted to be the first airline offering free WiFi for the full duration of long-haul flights. Millions of Norwegian customers have already enjoyed free WiFi over the skies of Europe and now long-haul passengers can continue to rely on free and high-speed internet connectivity that will enhance and personalize their journeys. From being the first European airline to launch free WiFi on all short-haul flights followed by free live television, Norwegian’s rollout of high-quality inflight broadband services will offer business and leisure travelers even greater value at affordable fares,” said Vice President Business Development Boris Bubresko, Norwegian.

Passengers will enjoy fast speed internet using the wireless inflight connectivity platform, CabinConnect™ by Collins Aerospace. Passengers will have highly secured access to content through CabinConnect including their favorite shows, inflight map and voice and messaging services through their devices.

CabinConnect uses the Inmarsat Global Aviation (GX) satellite network, specifically designed to offer passengers consistent, reliable high-speed global inflight connectivity. Inflight WiFi works via an antenna fitted to each aircraft fuselage that communicates with Inmarsat’s GX satellite network.

“We are collaborating with Norwegian to achieve their vision of optimizing their aircraft and enterprise operations to address both cabin and flight deck requirements, as well as adding new capabilities for the future,” said LeAnn Ridgeway, Vice President of Information Management Services at Collins Aerospace.

In 2019, five brand new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners and 19 737 MAX aircraft will join Norwegian’s fleet. Norwegian currently operates 24 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners as part of its overall Dreamliner fleet of 32 aircraft.

Two packages – Basic and Premium inflight WiFi

Norwegian economy and Premium customers on the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner and 737 MAX will have the choice of two inflight WiFi packages:

Basic option

The Basic option is free and will allow customers to browse the web, stay-up-to-date on social media, send and receive emails and instant messages with friends, family and colleagues by using their personal mobile phones, tablets and laptops on board for the full length of the flight.

Premium option

Fast enough to stream music, movies and television shows on Netflix, YouTube and Hulu among others, Norwegian will offer passengers a Premium high-speed WiFi option.

Premium high-speed WiFi will be available at an introductory price of $14.95 USD for a three-hour package. Customers can select their preferred currency when choosing the WiFi package.

In the U.S., Norwegian continues to be the fastest growing foreign airline, and will operate from 17 airports and currently offers more than 50 nonstop routes to Europe, as well as four routes from the U.S. to Guadeloupe and Martinique in the French Caribbean, and three routes out of Canada.

Southwest’s pilots applaud the DOT decision concerning the application of Norwegian Air International

Southwest Airlines‘ (Dallas) pilots, represented by SWAPA, have issued this statement:

The Southwest Airlines Pilots’ Association (SWAPA) commends the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) for denying Norwegian Air International (NAI) a temporary foreign air carrier operating authorization. NAI is a subsidiary of Norwegian Air which is located in Norway. NAI has sought to operate service to the U.S. as an Irish airline where it has no operating flights or history of operations.

“The denial of a temporary operating authorization is applauded by the pilots of Southwest Airlines,” said SWAPA Governmental Affairs Chair Captain Paul Jackson. “We agree with Secretary Foxx’s assertion that the application of Norwegian Air International is not in the public interest.”

This denial is only for the temporary application and is not a denial of the full application approval for a foreign carrier exemption with the DOT by NAI. The pilots of Southwest Airlines have opposed the application of NAI from early in the process due to the company’s “flag of convenience” strategy that locates the airline away from their home country of Norway. The NAI application for a foreign carrier operating authorization has been on file with the DOT since early this year. It is opposed by airline employees and management across the U.S. and the EU.

“We encourage Norwegian to join the marketplace under the labor laws and rules of their home country and not seek a scheme to avoid them,” Captain Jackson continued. “We strongly believe that our product and the work of our industry can stand up to any competitor if they play by the rules in place and do not seek to lower costs at any price.”

Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 737-7H4 N953WN (msn 36668) taxies to the runway at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

Southwest Airlines Aircraft Slide Show: CLICK HERE

Norwegian brings the first Boeing 787 to Orlando

Norwegian Air Shuttle (Norwegian Long Haul) (Norwegian.com) (Oslo) landed the first scheduled Boeing 787 Dreamliner service at Orlando International Airport (MCO) on Thursday night (May 29). The maiden flight from Oslo, Norway to Orlando was the first Boeing 787 to land at MCO. The full flight was greeted with a traditional water salute by the airport rescue fire fighters (ARFF).

Norwegian Air will offer nonstop service between Orlando and Oslo two-days-a-week, Thursdays and Saturdays, with connections to over 94 locations in Europe and Thailand.

Norwegian: