LONDON – The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has granted Long Haul Low-Cost Carrier, Norse Atlantic, an Air Operating Certificate (AOC) as well as an Operating Licence (OL), allowing the airline to proceed with direct transatlantic flights from the United Kingdom.

CAA Gives Norse Greenlight

The British Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), has given the all-clear for Norse Atlantic, giving them an Air Operating Certificate (AOC) and Operating License (OL), enabling the new Long Haul Low-Cost Carrier to begin direct transatlantic flights from the United Kingdom.

Although Norse Atlantic (N0) have been operating to the United States from London Gatwick (LGW), these have been flown by the carrier’s Oslo-based Boeing 787 Dreamliners, which have flown Oslo-Gatwick before being utilized to the United States, and thereafter returning to Oslo’s Gardermoen Airport (OSL).

The receiving of their AOC and OL means that Norse Atlantic’s UK division can utilize their one Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, registered G-CKOF, which will be based at London Gatwick (LGW). The aircraft, along with others in Norse Atlantic’s fleet, originate from the old, bankrupt Norwegian Long Haul.

Norse’s rapid expansion

Since its inaugural flight from Oslo to New York JFK on June 14th, Norse Atlantic has seen a rapid and big expansion in its route network.

Since its launch, Norse have expanded its route network from Oslo, creating gateways from Oslo, Norway, to Los Angeles, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale and even London, England.

In addition to this, they’ve created gateways to the United States from London, England, as well as creating connectivity from Berlin’s Brandenburg Airport (BER) to Los Angeles (LAX) and New York’s John F. Kennedy (JFK).

Norse Atlantic received most of their Boeing 787s in early 2022, most of them were situated on the ground until the inaugural, where one Boeing 787 was utilized. As the network expanded, more of them were taken into use. Though, there are still some machines remaining grounded until they expand their network even more.

Norse’s history

Founded in February of 2021, Norse Atlantic is a new Norwegian Low-Cost Carrier in the Long Haul division. Called the successor of Norwegian’s Long Haul program, which went bankrupt during Covid-19, Norse Atlantic is a competitor on the long haul market of the same calibre.

The carrier is headquartered in Arendal, Norway and is founded by Bjørn Tore Larsen, with the ex-Norwegian CEO and founder Bjørn Kjos owning minority stakes in the airline.

Announced in March of 2021, the airline was hoping to start selling tickets in the fall of 2021, with hopes of commercial services beginning in December of the same year. However, the airline was forced to delay sales and launch due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the restrictions that it carried.

The airline completed its first commercial flight on June 14th, 2022, and has since expanded its route network and fleet size.

Overall

Norse Atlantic seem to push the market hard and fast with their expansion plans, and the CAA’s decision to grant Norse’s UK subsidiary is sure to set no stops in their planned expansion.

With their now Berlin-USA, Oslo-USA and London-USA routes, it’s not impossible that Norse have even more tricks up their sleeve and will continue to expand from other cities, as well as offering connectivity to even more cities in the United States.

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