The United States Department of Transportation (DoT) yesterday approved Norse Atlantic Airways’ application for flights across the Atlantic Ocean to the US. The Norwegian low-cost carrier was founded in early 2021 with plans to start flying from Europe to North America this year.
Kicking off the year well
Just before the new year, Norse Atlantic had been granted its air operator’s certificate (AOC) from the Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority. This move set up a strong start to 2022, with the airline keen to start flying to the US from Oslo this spring.
The momentum is continuing for the carrier, with the DoT approving the company’s transatlantic flight application. The airline notes that the move will provide many jobs in the US. Along with airline personnel such as flight attendants, several indirect jobs will be scaled up across the travel and tourism spectrum.
Notably, last May, the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA) and Nose Atlantic reached what was promoted as a historic pre-hire agreement for US flight attendant jobs. The initiative is set to create a minimum of 700 positions in the US.
Building a community
Norse’s leadership is ecstatic about the approval. It also highlighted the positive socio-economic impact that will come as a result.
“We are thrilled by the Department of Transportation’s approval of our affordable transatlantic flights. This significant milestone brings Norse one step closer to launching affordable and more environmentally friendly service to customers traveling between Europe and the United States. We appreciate the USDOT’s constructive and prompt approach, and we look forward to working with them in the months ahead,” shared Norse CEO and Founder Bjørn Tore via a company statement.
“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 look forward to start recruiting our new colleagues in the U.S.”
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Grand prospects
Ultimately, Norse is looking to bring affordable transatlantic services with its Boeing 787 aircraft. The airline received its first Dreamliner just before Christmas, with the 787-9 arriving at Oslo Gardemoen on December 20th. In total, the firm has 15 787s on order, split between 12 787-9s and three 787-8s.
There are also greater ambitions for the airline. It looks to become the lowest carbon-emitting carrier in the world when it comes to carbon emissions per passenger-kilometer. The company’s high-density 787s will contribute well to this goal.
The first three Norse 787 transatlantic routes are expected to be between Oslo and Fort Lauderdale, Stewart, and Ontario. However, the airline could swiftly spread its network to fly from other European destinations to the US. For instance, it received slots at London Stansted, allowing for more transoceanic opportunities. Ultimately, the carrier will be excited to perform its first hops in the coming months.
What are your thoughts about the DoT approving Norse Atlantic Airways’ application for transatlantic flights? What do you make of the overall update? Let us know what you think of the situation in the comment section.
Source: https://simpleflying.com/norse-atlantic-us-dot-approval/
