The agreement with Braathens ended the
same year, after it merged with SAS – which
in turn decided to use its subsidiaries, SAS
Commuter and Widerøe, on routes NAS had
been ying.
NAS launched its own domestic services
in 2002 as a low-cost carrier – on condition
that Norway’s authorities did not allow
frequent yer programmes to apply to these
routes; and that SAS be prevented from
cross-subsidising its own internal Norwegian
services so as not to undercut NAS. The
Norwegian Competition Authority supported
the requests and brought in appropriate
legislation.
On September 1, NAS was rebranded as
Norwegian and took on its rst jet, Boeing
737-500 LN-BRU. Two 737-300s were added
by the end of the year.
The Fokker 50s were dispensed with
in 2004, a year when Norwegian agreed a
codeshare arrangement with FlyNordic and
Sterling Airlines. The airline continued to
grow but the challenges it faced were such
that it was not until 2005 that it achieved its
rst pro table year.
In 2006 Norwegian took the bold step to
branch out from its homeland to establish
a Polish subsidiary based at Warsaw, with
ights to ve European cities. But, despite
the operation being pro table, it was later
decided to concentrate on Scandinavian
services and the base shut in 2010.During 2007 Norwegian set up a base at
Stockholm/Arlanda and placed an order for
42 Boeing 737-800s, the rst of which arrived
in 2008. Meanwhile the collapse that year of
Sterling Airlines opened up opportunities in
Denmark and Norwegian established a base
at Copenhagen. Another was set up at Oslo
Rygge Airport (in addition to one that already
existed at Oslo/Gardermoen).
Norwegian’s rst services outside Europe
began in 2008 with ights to Dubai from Oslo
and Stockholm. In 2009 the it expanded
rapidly with 39 new routes emanating from
Denmark alone, while passenger numbers
rose by 18% to 10.8m.
The carrier placed an order for another
15 737-800s in 2010, a year when it started
painting notable Nordic gures on aircraft tails.
Fifteen more 737-800s, plus three 787-8
Dreamliners, were ordered in 2011 – which
also saw Norwegian open a new base in
Helsinki and become the rst carrier to offer
free Wi-Fi on ights.
In 2012, it set up its rst Spanish bases
at Malaga and Las Palmas in the Canary
Islands. It also ordered two more 787-8s and,
as a sign of its ambitions, announced the
largest-ever agreement in European aviation
history for new aircraft – with deals for 22
737-800s, 100 737 MAX 8s and 100 Airbus
A320neo jets.
Norwegian’s rst A320neo will arrive
this year, and it will be the launch carrierAbove: The Silver pension company of
Norway used Boeing 737-300 LN-KKZ for
advertising. AirTeamImages.com/Keith
Blincow
Main photo: Norwegian currently has eight
Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners for long-haul
ights. AirTeamImages.com/Danish Aviation
Photo
Below left: Norwegian’s CEO, Bjørn Kjos,
a former Royal Norwegian Air Force F-104
Star ghter pilot, quali ed lawyer and
novelist. Norwegian
Below: The airline has 91 Boeing 737-800s
in its current eet. Norwegianhttp://www.aviation-news.co.uk 5958-62_norwegiansDC.mfDC.mf.indd 59 07/01/2016 11:43