Norwegian Air Shuttle

Norwegian Air Shuttle ASA

File:Norwegianairshuttlelogo2013.png
IATA ICAO Call sign DY NAX NOR SHUTTLE
Founded	22 January 1993
Operating bases	Alicante Bergen Copenhagen Helsinki Las Palmas London (LGW) Madrid Málaga Oslo (OSL) (Largest base and headquarter) Sandefjord Stavanger Stockholm (ARN) Tenerife (TFS) Trondheim
Frequent-flyer program	Norwegian Reward
Subsidiaries	Norwegian Long Haul
Fleet size	78
Destinations	121
Headquarters	“Diamanten” building Fornebu (Bærum), Norway
Key people	Bjørn Kjos (CEO) Bjørn H. Kise (Chairman)
Website	www.norwegian.com

Norwegian Air Shuttle ASA (OSE: NAS), trading as Norwegian, is the third largest low-cost carrier in Europe, the second-largest airline in Scandinavia, and the ninth-largest airline in Europe in terms of passenger numbers.^[1] It offers a high-frequency domestic flight schedule within Scandinavia and to business destinations such as London, as well as to holiday destinations in the Mediterranean and the Canary Islands, transporting 17.7 million people in 2012.

As of September 2013, Norwegian operates 78 aircraft of which all are Boeing 737s, and is known for its distinctive livery of white with a red nose, with individual portraits of noteworthy Scandinavians on the tail fin. The airline has bases at Oslo (OSL), Copenhagen (CPH), Stockholm (ARN), Helsinki (HEL), London (LGW), Málaga (AGP), Las Palmas (LPA), Alicante (ALC), Bergen (BGO), Trondheim (TRD), Stavanger (SVG), Tenerife (TFS) (opening February 2014) and Madrid (opening June 2014).

Norwegian launched its long-haul operation in May 2013, although the long-haul flights are not operated by Norwegian Air Shuttle itself but rather by its subsidiary company Norwegian Long Haul. Norwegian Long Haul is a separate business entity and does not share the same AOC as Norwegian Air Shuttle.

Norwegian Air Shuttle (NAS) was founded on 22 January 1993 to take over the regional airline services produced by Busy Bee for Braathens in Western Norway. Busy Bee, founded in 1966, was a subsidiary of Braathens that operated a fleet of Fokker 50 aircraft for charter. This included the network of regional services between cities on the Norway's west coast operated on wet lease for the mother company. Following the bankruptcy, NAS took over three leased Fokker 50 aircraft, and started operating from Bergen Airport, Flesland to Haugesund Airport, Karmøy, as well as from Bergen to Molde Airport, Årø or Kristiansund Airport, Kvernberget, and onwards to Trondheim Airport, Værnes. The company was established and owned by former Busy Bee employees and initially had a workforce of fifty.^[2][3] It was based in Bergen, but later established a technical base in Stavanger.^[4]

From 1 April 1994, the airline also began service from Bergen to Ålesund Airport, Vigra.^[5] In 1995, the company received its fourth Fokker 50s, and had a revenue of NOK 86.6 million and a profit of NOK 2.9 million. It flew 50 daily services.^[6]

By 1999, the company had six Fokker 50s and flew 500,000 passengers on 20,000 flights.^[4][7] The company had a revenue of NOK 172 million and a profit of NOK 13 million. On 2 June 2000, NAS bought the helicopter operator Lufttransport from Helikopter Service.^[7] In 2000, the NAS fleet was expanded to seven Fokker 50s. From 2 January 2001, several Braathens routes were terminated, including the NAS-operated services from Kristiansund to Trondheim and Molde. The route from Bergen to Haugesund, and Bergen–Molde–Trondheim were reduced.^[8]

On 7 January 2002, NAS took over the responsibility for the route from Stavanger to Newcastle, flying two round trips per day. This was the first route where the airline did not wet lease the aircraft to Braathens, but instead operated the route on their own risk. After Braathens was bought by Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS) in November 2001, all the contracts for the routes on the Norwegian west coast that Norwegian had with Braathens, were cancelled by SAS, who wanted their subsidiary SAS Commuter to take over. NAS had an 18-month cancellation period in their contract with Braathens, however this was not respected by SAS, who terminated the contracts without any notice.^[9]

Following the decision by SAS to purchase Braathens, and the subsequent termination of all the contracts between Braathens and NAS, NAS announced in April 2002 that it would start domestic scheduled services as a low-cost carrier on the most busy routes. From 1 September 2002, the airline re-branded as Norwegian.^[10]

The airline opened their second hub at Warsaw Frederic Chopin Airport in Poland, flying to Central European destinations. There were two Boeing 737 operating from Warsaw.^[11] The base was closed in 2010. Norwegian Air Shuttle ASA announced 24 April 2007 that they had bought 100% of the Swedish low-cost airline FlyNordic from Finnair plc; becoming the largest low-cost airline in Scandinavia. As payment for the shares in FlyNordic, Finnair got a 5% share stake in Norwegian.^[12]

In February 2008 Norwegian announced their first destination outside Europe, non-stop to Dubai from Oslo-Gardermoen and Stockholm-Arlanda.

After the bankruptcy of competitor Sterling Airlines, Norwegian announced that they would open a new hub at Copenhagen Airport and service the most profitable routes. Flights to Aalborg and Stockholm as well as additional flights to Oslo would start immediately, with flights to London, Amsterdam and Rome to follow "shortly after".^{[citation needed]}

On 30 August 2007, Norwegian ordered 42 new Boeing 737-800 aircraft, with an option for 42 more, an order worth US$ 3.1 billion.^[13] This order was later increased by 6 aircraft in November 2009. In July 2010 15 of the options were declared, and in June 2011 15 more options were declared, bringing the total order of new, owned 737-800's to 78 aircraft with 12 remaining options. Additionally, Norwegian introduced leased Boeing 737-800 aircraft into the fleet. The first leased 737-800 arrived at Oslo Airport, Gardermoen, Norway, on 26 January 2008. It was registered LN-NOB, and has a tail picture of the Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg. The plane made its first scheduled flight on 1 February. As of August 2013, the number of leased 737-800 aircraft has increased to 29. The first owned 737-800 from the 30 August 2007 order, registered LN-DYA, arrived in Oslo in August 2009. This aircraft was given the tail hero of Norwegian artist Erik Bye.

In April 2010, Norwegian started flights from Oslo-Gardermoen and Stockholm to Helsinki-Vantaa Airport. During early 2011, Norwegian will have three aircraft stationed there and will introduce domestic flights to Oulu Airport and Rovaniemi Airport on 31 March 2011. Starting in May, additional flights will begin to nine additional international destinations.^[14][15]

In October 2009, Norwegian announced it intended to start flights from Oslo to New York and Bangkok, requiring new intercontinental aircraft. In 2010, it said it was considering up to 15 intercontinental destinations from Scandinavia, and would also consider services to South America and Africa.^[16] On 8 November 2010, Norwegian announced that it had contracted to lease two new Boeing 787 Dreamliners from International Lease Finance Corporation, with delivery in 2012, and that it was negotiating the leasing of additional aircraft.^[17]

On 25 January 2012, Norwegian announced the largest order of aircraft in European history. The order consists of 22 Boeing 737-800 and 100 Boeing 737 MAX 8 with an option for another 100 for the latter. Also, it included an order for 100 Airbus A320neo and an option for another 50 Airbus A320neo.^[18]

In late October 2012, the airline announced a new base in London Gatwick from spring 2013 with three Boeing 737-800s. The planes will be used on new international routes from London to leisure destinations in Spain, Portugal, France, Italy and Croatia. All announced routes are scheduled to be flown in competition with airlines like easyJet, Monarch, Ryanair and Thomson Airways. Gatwick is already served by Norwegian from a large number of cities in Scandinavia.^[19]

The company is headed by CEO and largest shareholder Bjørn Kjos, and the board is chaired by Bjørn H. Kise.^[20] The airline is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange.

The company's head office is in Diamanten, an office building at Fornebu, Bærum outside Oslo.^[21] Previously, the airline had its head office functions inside other buildings in Fornebu,^[22] but in 2010 moved to Diamanten, which had been the former Braathens, and later SAS Norway, head office.^[21]

The Norwegian Group consists of the parent company Norwegian Air Shuttle ASA, and the fully owned subsidiaries Norwegian Air Shuttle Polska Sp.zo.o and Norwegian Air Shuttle Sweden AB. All flights are operated by the parent company Norwegian Air Shuttle ASA; the subsidiaries manage personnel, sales and marketing within certain geographical areas.

Norwegian Air Shuttle ASA owns 100% of the telephone company Call Norwegian AS, 99.9% of NAS Asset Management which owns the new 737-800 aircraft purchased from Boeing, 100% of NAS Asset Management Norway AS, and 100% of Norwegian Long Haul AS, as well as 20% of Norwegian Finans Holding ASA (Bank Norwegian AS).

Norwegian is a member of European Low Fares Airline Association.

The key trends for Norwegian over recent years are shown below (as at year ending 31 December):

	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012
Turnover (MNOK)	386	959	1,210	1,972	2,941	4,226	6,226	7,309	8,598	10,532	12,859
Profits (EBT) (MNOK)	−52	−43	−110	39	−32	113	5	623	243	167	623
Number of employees (FTE)	320	374	445	560	882	1,417	1,596	1,852	2,211	2,555	2,890
Number of passengers (M)	0.3	1.2	2.1	3.3	5.1	6.9	9.1	10.8	13.0	15.7	17.7
Passenger load factor (%)	52	62	67	78	79	80	79	78	77	79	79
Number of aircraft (at year end)	7	8	12	14	19	33	40	46	53	62	68
Notes/sources									[23]	[24]	[25]

Norwegian serves Europe, North Africa and the Middle East for both business and leisure markets. In total the airline operates 382 routes to 121 destinations in 32 countries on four continents.

Domestic, intra-Scandinavian and typical European business and leisure destinations have the most frequencies. The busiest routes in Norwegians network are the Oslo to Bergen and the Oslo to Trondheim routes with 13 daily round-trips. Norwegian’s largest non-Scandinavian operation is to London Gatwick with up to 24 daily round-trips.

Typical leisure destinations in Southern Europe are typically served once or twice a day from the main Scandinavian cities. Norwegian's longest Boeing 737 route is from Oslo to Dubai, a distance of 5,133 kilometres, which is also the second longest scheduled 737 route in the world.

Norwegian started long-haul flights on 30 May 2013.^[26] The first scheduled flights are from Oslo and Stockholm to New York City and Bangkok, originally with wet-leased A340-300 aircraft while the airline awaited delivery of the new Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft. In March 2013 Norwegian Air Shuttle confirmed a new long haul route from Copenhagen, Oslo and Stockholm to Fort Lauderdale, beginning on 29 November 2013.^[27] Norwegian has also (in September 2013) announced flights Stockholm to Oakland and Los Angeles beginning May 2014, and also Copenhagen-Los Angeles, Copenhagen-New York, Oslo-Oakland, Oslo-Los Angeles and Oslo-Orlando.

Norwegian Long Haul will also fly from London Gatwick to New York (JFK), Fort Lauderdale and Los Angeles from Summer 2014.

Omitted in previous details; Norwegian is expanding its crew bases and Fleet, in additional to the routes. For example: they will base 150 or so crew in Fort Lauderdale Florida starting in the late Spring of 2014. Their crew presence on the West Coast as well as Orlando and New York will also increase. The Fort Lauderdale service is particularly interesting; as although Condor flies to Germany direct, and Air Berlin as well, albeit through Miami, Norwegian becomes the first nonstop from FLL to LGW (London Gatwick), in addition to flights to Copenhagen and Stockholm. All the US flight service will be aboard Boeing 787 Dreamliners; which isn't noted previously. They have 3 presently, with more ordered. Furthermore, their last order to Boeing and Airbus exceeds 100 aircraft; so the potential growth and competitive presence becomes evident versus the known 'discount' carriers. Unfortunately the airline operates its own point frequent flyer program (for purchases within the company only), but does not participate in any of the alliances with other airlines. They are also notable for having 'free' WiFi in low-cost European routes, which others do not offer. This is not yet available on long-haul flights; although inflight entertainment is. (This paragraph only was inserted by Gene Inger of ingerletter.com which has just analyzed this company, and along with Air Berlin, once Brandenberg finally opens, may be the two viable competitors to the existing low-cost EU carriers.)

Norwegian operates an extensive domestic network within Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland.

For topographic and demographic reasons, the domestic market in Norway is one of the largest air travel markets in the Nordic region, and is also significant in European terms. The destinations served by Norwegian are generally divided by mountain ranges, unsheltered plains and fjords. Road and railroad networks are scant because of rather unwelcoming geographical conditions, and connections are unpredictable due to weather during mid-winter. Combined with vast distances, air travel is by far the most efficient mode of transportation.

The Finnish and Swedish domestic markets are to a large extent characterized by similar properties to that of the Norwegian domestic market, however rail is a large competitor on medium distances. Distances within Denmark are generally short and the landscape flat, but the country is divided by water making the longest rail and road distances long and thus air transportation efficient on some destinations. Denmark, Finland, Sweden is characterized by a large proportion business travelers on domestic air planes (since private travelers prefer cheaper trains and cars) except for the farthest destinations.

Intra-Scandinavian routes, and in particular “the capital triangle” between Oslo, Stockholm and Copenhagen, is attractive due to extensive traffic both of business and leisure travellers. Other modes of transportation are generally inefficient and slow between these cities.^{[citation needed]}

Scandinavia’s geographical placing in the far north corner of Europe also makes air travel the most efficient mode of transportation to continental Europe. Traffic to continental Europe is further enhanced by the demographics in the Scandinavian market, with considerable international trade and an extensive tradition for leisure travel.

As of December 2013, Norwegian Air Shuttle's fleet consists of the following aircraft:^[28][29][30] For Norwegian Longhaul fleet, go to Norwegian Long Haul

Norwegian Air Shuttle fleet

Aircraft	In Service	Orders	Options	Passengers			Notes
				M	Y	Total
Airbus A320neo	—	100	50	0	180	180	EIS: 2016
Boeing 737-300	10	—	—	0	148	148	Exiting service. 5 owned, 5 leased.
Boeing 737-800	68	63	6	0	186 189	186 189	61 own orders remaining + 2 more leases. All planes leased.[30]
Boeing 737 MAX 8	—	100	100	0	189	189	EIS: 2017
Total	81	268	156

The −800s are equipped with winglets and CFM 56-7B26 engines. All −800s have a longer range than the −300, allowing 2,400 nautical miles (4,400 km; 2,800 mi). They are the only craft used to the Middle East, Africa and the Canary Islands; otherwise both types are used throughout the network, plus all domestic services in Sweden.^[31] In 2012, Norwegian Air Shuttle received 13 new Boeing 737-800s. For 2013 and 2014 the corresponding figures are 14, and 11, respectively.^[32]

Norwegian's aircraft livery is white with a signal red nose. The vertical tail plane feature portraits of historically distinctive Norwegians, Swedes, Danes and Finns which together with the red nose signals the airline's change-maker spirit.^[33] Norwegian has also operated a single aircraft in the an advertisement livery for the insurance company Silver.^[34]

From 1993 to 2002, the company solely operated Fokker F-50 turbo-prop aircraft primarily as a commuter airline, having a total fleet of six in 2002. The company ceased all F-50 operations at the end of 2003 in order to focus on the Boeing 737-300 jet operations and sold the last three of the Fokker F-50 in early 2004. For a limited period in the early years of the 737 operation Norwegian operated a 737-500 as an interim solution while waiting for 737-300 deliveries. Following the acquisition of Swedish low cost airline FlyNordic in 2007, Norwegian inherited eight MD-80 aircraft. The last of the MD-80 aircraft was phased out two years later.

Norwegian Air Shuttle historic fleet

Aircraft	Total	Introduced	Retired	Ref
Boeing 737-500	1	2002	2003	[31][35]
Fokker 50	7	1992	2004	[31][36]
McDonnell Douglas MD-82	5	2008	2009	[31][37]
McDonnell Douglas MD-83	3	2008	2009	[31][37]

All flight operations are performed under one single air operator's certificate (AOC) (ICAO airline designator NAX). The Group also held one Swedish AOC (ICAO airline designator NDC) up until 2009, but the double AOC operation was discontinued for efficiency purposes^{[citation needed]}. The main technical base is at Stavanger, although heavy maintenance (C/D checks) and engine maintenance are put out on tender.^{[citation needed]} Norwegian purchases all aircraft ground handling from a third party; in Norway, Aviator Airport Alliance, former Norport Handling and Røros Flyservice.^{[citation needed]}

Norwegian, as a low-cost airline, operates aircraft with all-economy class seating. Surcharges are taken for on-board food and drinks, check-in baggage, payment by credit card and other non-core services.^[38]

The airline runs two frequent flyer programs: Norwegian Reward is for travellers, who earn cash point based on a percent of cash paid for tickets and the ticket class (10% on full fares, 2% on discounted fares). Corporate Reward allows companies to redeem cash points on a similar basis. Norwegian supported the ban on point accrual that was in force on Norwegian domestic flights until 16 May 2013, but when that ban was lifted, the reward programs were extended to that market as well.^[39]

Norwegian also offers free WiFi in its 737-800 fleet.^[40]

Between 2011 and 2013, Norwegian Air Shuttle (NAS) has received harsh criticism regarding its treatment of employees. The media first reported NAS's announced intention to open a base in Helsinki, from where it hired pilots on short-term contracts (in Estonia) rather than as employees within the company. The Norwegian tax-office authorities suspected in August 2012 that many Norwegian citizens were working for NAS on these contracts and not paying Norwegian taxes despite operating on flights originating from Norway.^[41][42]

The Norwegian Pilot's Union (NPU) brought NAS to court over the short-term contracts. NAS CEO Bjørn Kjos only inflamed matters when he declared that NAS would no longer hire employees on Norwegian terms.^[43][44]

In the fall of 2012, NAS started to use contract-employed pilots on routes within Scandinavia, which was considered by the NPU to be an abrogation of labor terms regarding non-Scandinavian pilots on routes within Scandinavia. NPU soon after sued NAS.^[45]

In October 2013, the NPU announced their intention to strike as NAS forced its pilots to face dismissal or transfer to Norwegian Air Norway or Norwegian Air Resources AB, both subsidiaries of NAS. The respective subsidiary would then lease the pilots back to NAS. NPU and their Swedish counterpart SPF accused NAS of using this ploy to break the solidarity and organization of the pilots, with the eventual goal of co-ercing pilots to converting their jobs to contract positions.^[46][47]

In mid-December, NAS faced its Swedish non-contract flight-attendants with either dismissal or transferrance to Proffice Aviation, an external staffing company. According to the Swedish cabin-crew union, Unionen, it managed to save the jobs of 53 NAS employees, but it was dissatisfied with the direction NAS had taken. The situation led to the leader for the Swedish Left Party, Jonas Sjöstedt, to state that stricter regulation is needed for the use of staffing-companies in Sweden.^[48]

Norwegian has also received criticism for the terms of its contracts with its long-haul flight-attendants, who are on low-payment contracts based on Thai law. This despite long-haul operations that originate from Europe.^[49] This caused the Air Line Pilots Association to further accuse Norwegian of unfair competition practices.

• Official website Europe
• Official website Norway Template:No icon
• Official website UK
• Official website USA
• Route Map