Ruth Haines
Norwegian Air Shuttle, commonly referred to as Norwegian, is a low-cost airline and one of the two biggest airlines in Norway. The airline was founded on 22 January 1993 and initially operated a fleet of Fokker 50 aircraft on charter services. Norwegian has since expanded its fleet to include Boeing 737-800 and Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, serving over 70 European airports and additional destinations in the USA and Thailand. While it's unclear which airport serves as Norwegian Air's home base, the airline has a significant presence in Norway, with Oslo Airport, Gardermoen serving as a hub for the delivery of new aircraft.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the airline | Norwegian Air Shuttle (NAS) |
| Founding date | 22 January 1993 |
| Founding place | Bergen, Norway |
| Initial workforce | 50 |
| Initial aircraft | 3 leased Fokker 50 aircraft |
| Initial routes | Bergen Airport, Flesland to Haugesund Airport, Karmøy; Bergen to Molde Airport, Årø or Kristiansund Airport, Kvernberget, and onwards to Trondheim Airport, Værnes |
| Second hub | Warsaw Frederic Chopin Airport, Poland |
| Aircraft orders | 42 new Boeing 737-800 aircraft with options for 42 more (later increased to 78 new, owned 737-800s) |
| Additional aircraft | Leased Boeing 737-800 and 737 MAX 8 aircraft, and Airbus A320neos |
| Destinations | Over 70 European airports with direct flights to Norway, including Helsinki, Oulu, Rovaniemi, Stockholm, and Helsinki-Vantaa Airport |
| International presence | Flights to the USA, Thailand, and several international destinations |
| Domestic presence | All major cities and towns in Norway, with over 50 airports |
| Major Norwegian airports | Oslo, Bergen, Stavanger, Tromsø, Trondheim, Ålesund, Haugesund, Sandefjord |
| Competition | SAS, Widerøe, Norse Atlantic Airways |
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What You'll Learn
Norwegian Air Shuttle's history
Norwegian Air Shuttle (NAS) was founded on 22 January 1993, taking over the regional airline services of Busy Bee in Western Norway. Busy Bee was a subsidiary of Braathens, operating a fleet of Fokker 50 aircraft on charter services. Following Busy Bee's bankruptcy in December 1992, NAS took over its aircraft and routes, initially operating with a workforce of fifty, made up of former Busy Bee employees.
NAS was based in Bergen and established a technical base in Stavanger. Its early routes included Bergen Airport, Flesland to Haugesund Airport, Karmøy, as well as Bergen to Molde Airport, Årø or Kristiansund Airport, Kvernberget, and onwards to Trondheim Airport, Værnes.
In November 2001, Braathens was bought by Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS), which cancelled all contracts with NAS for routes on the Norwegian west coast. In response, NAS announced in April 2002 that it would begin operating as a low-cost carrier on domestic scheduled services. From 1 September 2002, the airline rebranded as Norwegian.
Norwegian quickly found success by offering very low-cost tickets compared to its regional competitors. In 2007, the airline ordered 42 new Boeing 737-800 aircraft, with options for 42 more, later increasing this order several times. In 2010, Norwegian began considering up to 15 intercontinental destinations from Scandinavia, as well as services to South America and Africa. In 2011, the airline announced the largest aircraft order in European history, including 100 Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft.
Today, Norwegian is one of Europe's leading low-cost airlines, with direct flights to Norway from over 70 European airports. It is one of the four largest domestic airlines in Norway, alongside SAS, Widerøe, and Norse Atlantic Airways.
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Destinations and routes
Norwegian Air Shuttle (NAS) is one of Europe's leading low-cost airlines, offering direct flights to Norway from over 70 European airports. The airline was founded on 22 January 1993 and took over regional airline services from Busy Bee in Western Norway.
Norwegian Air has a vast network of destinations and routes, both domestically within Norway and internationally.
Domestic routes
Norwegian initially operated flights between cities on the west coast of Norway, including Bergen, Haugesund, Molde, Kristiansund, and Trondheim. Over time, they expanded their domestic routes, offering scheduled services to destinations such as Oulu Airport and Rovaniemi Airport.
International routes
Norwegian Air has established itself as a prominent player in international travel, with direct flights to Norway from numerous countries in Europe and beyond. They have a significant presence in Central Europe, with Warsaw Frederic Chopin Airport serving as their second hub. From Warsaw, they operate flights to various Central European destinations using Boeing 737 aircraft.
In 2009, Norwegian Air announced its intention to expand its long-haul operations, introducing flights from Oslo to New York City and Bangkok. They also considered up to 15 intercontinental destinations from Scandinavia, with potential services to South America and Africa.
In 2010, Norwegian Air started flights from Oslo-Gardermoen and Stockholm to Helsinki-Vantaa Airport, further solidifying their presence in the Nordic region. By 2011, they had three aircraft stationed in Helsinki, offering convenient connections to other destinations.
Norwegian Air's fleet includes Boeing 737-800 and Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, enabling them to serve a wide range of routes and destinations. Their route network continues to evolve, providing passengers with a cost-effective and accessible way to explore Norway and beyond.
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Fleet
Norwegian Air Shuttle (NAS) was founded on 22 January 1993, taking over the regional airline services of Busy Bee in Western Norway. Initially, the airline operated a fleet of Fokker 50 aircraft, flying between cities on the west coast of Norway.
In 2000, NAS expanded its fleet to seven Fokker 50s. However, in 2001, several Braathens routes operated by NAS were terminated or reduced. On 7 January 2002, NAS took over its first self-operated route, flying from Stavanger to Newcastle. Following the purchase of Braathens by Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS) in November 2001, all contracts with Braathens were cancelled, leading NAS to announce in April 2002 that it would begin domestic scheduled services as a low-cost carrier.
On 30 August 2007, Norwegian ordered 42 new Boeing 737-800 aircraft, with options for 42 more, later increasing this order to 78 aircraft. Leased Boeing 737-800 aircraft were also introduced into the fleet, with the first arriving at Oslo Airport, Gardermoen, Norway, on 26 January 2008. In April 2010, Norwegian commenced flights from Oslo-Gardermoen and Stockholm to Helsinki-Vantaa Airport.
In 2011, Norwegian expanded its operations, introducing domestic flights within Finland and international flights to nine additional destinations. In October 2009, the airline announced its intention to start flights from Oslo to New York City and Bangkok, requiring new intercontinental aircraft. On 8 November 2010, Norwegian announced the lease of two new Boeing 787 Dreamliners, with plans to lease additional aircraft. On 25 January 2012, Norwegian placed the largest aircraft order in European history, including 22 Boeing 737-800 and 100 Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, as well as 100 Airbus A320neos.
However, the COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted Norwegian's operations and finances. In March 2020, the airline announced the cancellation of 85% of its flights and the layoff of 7,300 workers. Norwegian also outlined plans to reduce its active fleet to seven Boeing 737-800 aircraft for domestic routes within Norway. In January 2021, Norwegian continued restructuring, returning several aircraft to their lessors, including long-haul Boeing 787s. The airline ended all long-haul services and cancelled orders for Airbus A320neos and Airbus A321LRs. Norwegian also sought to sell its 737 MAX fleet and confirmed that 737 MAX operations would not resume.
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Criticisms and controversies
Norwegian Air Shuttle (NAS), also known as Norwegian, is a low-cost airline based in Norway. It is the largest airline in Norway and the ninth-largest in Europe in terms of passenger numbers.
Norwegian has faced a number of criticisms and controversies since its founding in 1993, including:
Treatment of Employees
Between 2011 and 2013, Norwegian was criticised for its treatment of employees. The airline was accused of hiring pilots on short-term contracts in Estonia rather than as employees within the company, and the Norwegian tax office authorities suspected that many Norwegian citizens were working for NAS on these contracts without paying Norwegian taxes. The Norwegian Pilot's Union (NPU) took NAS to court over the issue, and the CEO at the time, Bjørn Kjos, declared that NAS would no longer hire employees on Norwegian terms.
Union Disputes
In October 2013, the NPU announced its intention to strike after NAS forced its pilots to face dismissal or transfer to subsidiaries of the company. The NPU and its Swedish counterpart SPF accused NAS of using this tactic to break the solidarity of the pilots and coerce them into accepting contract positions. This led to calls for stricter regulation of staffing companies in Sweden.
US Budget Airline Plans
In 2014, Norwegian faced criticism from US airlines and unions over its plans to establish a low-cost, long-haul airline serving the United States. Opponents argued that Norwegian would undermine US wages and working standards, and that it would dodge US labour laws by using its Irish subsidiary to take advantage of weaker labour regulations. However, Kjos rejected these criticisms, stating that Norwegian pays competitive wages and supports employees' right to form unions.
Customer Complaints
In 2014, Norwegian Air customers lodged a record number of complaints, with delays affecting 35,000 people and 1,200 passengers ultimately suing the airline for compensation. Passengers also criticised the airline for not providing complimentary food, drinks, and blankets on board, instead only offering these items for purchase with a credit card.
Unfair Competition Practices
Norwegian has also been accused of unfair competition practices by the Air Line Pilots Association, particularly regarding the terms of its contracts with long-haul flight attendants based in Thailand. The airline disclosed that its Thai employees earn between $33,300 and $39,200 per annum, which is under the average pay for US flight attendants.
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Main hubs and bases
Norwegian Air Shuttle (NAS) was founded on 22 January 1993 and is based in Bergen, with a technical base in Stavanger. The airline's early success was based on offering very low-cost tickets compared to other airlines in the same region.
NAS initially operated flights from Bergen Airport, Flesland, to Haugesund Airport, Karmøy, and from Bergen to Molde Airport, Årø or Kristiansund Airport, Kvernberget, and onwards to Trondheim Airport, Værnes.
In April 2002, Norwegian announced it would start domestic scheduled services as a low-cost carrier on the busiest routes, and on 1 September 2002, the airline re-branded as Norwegian. The airline opened its second hub at Warsaw Frederic Chopin Airport in Poland, flying to Central European destinations.
In 2010, Norwegian announced plans to expand its intercontinental destinations, including flights from Oslo to New York City and Bangkok. In 2011, the airline introduced domestic flights to Oulu Airport and Rovaniemi Airport in Finland, and by May, it had added flights to nine additional international destinations.
Norwegian is one of the two biggest airlines in Norway, with direct flights to Norway from over 70 European airports. The airline also has codeshare agreements with regional airline Widerøe, which serves over 40 destinations in Norway and Europe.
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Frequently asked questions
Norwegian Air Shuttle (NAS) was founded in 1993 and initially operated from Bergen Airport, Flesland.
In the early days, NAS operated flights from Haugesund Airport, Karmøy, and Bergen to Molde Airport, Årø or Kristiansund Airport, Kvernberget, and onwards to Trondheim Airport, Værnes.
NAS was based in Bergen but later established a technical base in Stavanger.
In 2002, NAS rebranded as Norwegian and opened its second hub at Warsaw Frederic Chopin Airport.
Norwegian's early fleet consisted of old Boeing 737-300s, which were introduced in 1984.
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