Norse Atlantic announces first US routes – PaxEx.Aero
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Norse Atlantic Airways aims to replace a trio of Norwegian’s long-haul routes across the Atlantic Ocean next summer. In a file filed with the US Department of Transportation, the carrier indicated its intention to serve smaller alternative airports in the New York, Los Angeles and South Florida areas from Oslo.
The general destinations are not too surprising, but the specific airports chosen could be. Rather than competing at major airports in each market, the company chose Fort Lauderdale, Stewart / Newburgh and Ontario for its flights.
The carrier plans to launch the service in “summer 2022”, although specific dates remain unclear. He expects to receive his local operating certificate from the Norwegian aviation authorities in early November.
Read more: The Norwegian long-haul is dead; Long live Norse Atlantic Airways
Norse Atlantic plans to start operations with a trio of 787 Dreamliners in its fleet. They will fly in a two-class, Economy and Premium Economy configuration, just as they did when they served Norwegian’s long-haul fleet.
The company has also done everything possible to avoid the Union objections that Norwegian faced when trying to enter the market. Its application to the US DOT highlights a pre-employment agreement with the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO (AFA).
In the words of AFA President Sara Nelson, âThis is what respect for workers and our unions looks like. “
Whether that will be enough to allay Rep. DeFazio’s anger at the Norwegian endorsement remains to be seen. He had previously suggested to the DOT to “correct the error of 2016 and reject the request of this airline”.
The company spends much of the demand essentially complying with the ministry, trying to convince regulators that its presence in the market is necessary to ensure competition and consumer benefits.
The decision to launch from Oslo makes sense given the company’s Norwegian roots and the availability of niches from which to operate. Slot availability almost certainly also contributes to the selection of airports on the US side, although other cost factors certainly play a role.
It also means that the carrier will not initially serve the United States from London, where demand has historically been much higher and where Norwegian has claimed its routes are performing much better financially. Indeed, Scandinavian long-haul routes were curtailed even before the COVID pandemic finally forced Norwegian to shut down its long-haul operations.
The competition may be depressed, but so is demand. Perhaps a faster rebound in leisure traffic and visiting friends and relatives can bolster a low-cost carrier in the market better than before, as full-service airlines slow their recovery.
Expect London’s roads to end up shopping, however, as the airline’s fleet grows. The company highlighted London and Paris at a briefing in August and signed a deal with BALPA last week to bring crew jobs to the UK.
Plus, it’s easier to get slots at Gatwick than it was two years ago, given declining service levels and other airline bankruptcies along the way.
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