‘Norwegian UK’ opens up Asia, South America and South Africa

13. Nov 2015

by BusinessClass

Low-cost airline Norwegian has today been granted a UK Operating License, enabling it to take advantage of Britain’s bilateral air traffic agreements and opening up a series of potential new markets including Asia, South America and South Africa.

The airline will begin operating under the subsidiary ‘Norwegian UK’ in the first quarter of 2016, and will be based at Gatwick where the airline already has a presence of ten aircraft and more than 400 staff. Norwegian has become the third-largest airline at Gatwick and also operates from Manchester, Birmingham, and Edinburgh, offering the UK’s only low-cost direct flights to America. Norwegian CEO Bjorn Kjos said:

“The British market continues to play a major role in Norwegian’s growth. Securing a UK Operating License is great news and an important step to get a stronger foothold in the UK as we plan for further expansion, new routes and new jobs.”

Norwegian introduced the UK’s first low-cost, long-haul flights to the US in 2014, flying directly from Gatwick to New York, Fort Lauderdale and Los Angeles. Managing Director of Norwegian UK, Asgeir Nyseth said: “

With nearly 4 million passengers in the UK over the last 12 months, passengers are voting with their feet for the quality, affordable travel we offer. We are changing the face of low-cost travel by offering free on-board WiFi, state-of-the-art new aircraft and the UK’s only direct low-cost flights to America. With the door now unlocked for new routes and further growth, we look forward to offering UK passengers a range of exciting new destinations in the future.”

Low-cost Icelandic airline, and Norwegian’s rival,

Wow Air has announced it is launching services to Los Angeles and San Francisco next summer.