Norwegian Air to the US

Now as a British licensed airline (See BTN 16 November 2015) Norwegian Air has gained British government support in its bid to operate more services to the United States, despite opposition from unions and other airlines.

US regulators have not yet made a decision, it now being over 60 days since the application, the result known normally on average 53 days.

Norwegian currently flies to the United States from Gatwick on its Norwegian operating licence. (see last week’s BTN) 

Britain's director general for civil aviation Patricia Hayes wrote to the US Department of Transportation (DOT), calling for Norwegian's application to be approved, saying that it is in accordance with the terms of the Open Skies air traffic agreement between the European Union and the United States, Norway having a special arrangement.

"We urge the DOT to fully discharge the United States' international obligations in this regard and to grant [Norwegian Air UK] authorisation to operate forthwith," Hayes said in the letter, published on the DOT's website.

Unions have objected to Norwegian's use of some staff on long-haul routes being employed under Asian, not European contracts, and supported by SAS and Air France-KLM, called for clarity on how Norwegian plans to staff services to the United States.

Bjørn Kjos, CEO of Norwegian, is the speaker at the London Aviation Club 17 March.  www.norwegian.com/uk

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