Norse Atlantic Airways to Add More Transatlantic Flights

Norse Atlantic Airways, a new transatlantic airline, has reaffirmed its commitment to provide direct point-to-point flights between the UK and the US and to expand its presence at Gatwick airport.

There won’t be any layoffs as a result of Oslo-based Norse’s decision to remove excess capacity on some US routes and to run its Los Angeles route on a seasonal basis, which was made in an effort to emulate Norwegian Air’s low-cost transatlantic business model.

Four of Norse’s 13 aircraft have already been subleased, and talks to lease a fifth are still ongoing. Two more are still expected to join the Norse navy. It has acquired them on “power by the hour” contracts, which limit payment to times when the aircraft are in flight.

“The company expects to have 10 aircraft in operation at the height of the summer season including a greater presence out of London Gatwick,” said Norse, which confirmed on Monday (10th October) it would firm up its “core summer 2023” schedule in early November and place flights on sale through to October 2023. “Other routes will be announced in due course,” it added. “The company looks forward to ramping up cabin and flight crew recruitment in 2023, ahead of its expanded summer schedule.”

After receiving a UK air operator certificate, Norse will expand its summer 2023 schedule at Gatwick. Norse launched its Gatwick-New York JFK service through Oslo in August. However, it will face competition from three competing airlines at Gatwick, including British Airways, JetBlue, a recent entry, and Delta, which will make its first visit to the airport in more than ten years.