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Norse Atlantic Airways leases first B787 Dreamliner

Start-up carrier Norse Atlantic Airways has taken delivery of its first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner ahead of the planned start of transatlantic flights.

The Norwegian airline aims to start flying North Atlantic routes from spring 2022.

The carrier’s planned fleet consists of 12 787-9 Dreamliners and three Boeing 787-8s.

The next deliveries will continue until April and all aircraft will be initially parked at Oslo airport.

The first aircraft is being leased from BOC Aviation, one of the world’s largest aircraft leasing companies.

The aircraft lease is described as being at attractive rates and payment terms.

This allows the company a flexible implementation during start-up of its operation, with Norse only paying on a “power by the hour” basis at the outset.

The first flights are planned to connect Oslo to selected cities in the US.

The airline expects to employ 1,600 staff in the air and on the ground, including a London office, when all 15 aircraft are operational.

Founder and chief executive Bjorn Tore Larsen said: “The delivery of our first Dreamliner marks an important milestone for us at team Norse as it brings us one step closer to the launch of attractive and affordable transatlantic flights.

“We believe that transatlantic travel will resume with full force once the pandemic is behind us.

“People will want to explore new destinations, visit friends and family and travel for business.

“Norse will be there to offer attractive and affordable flights on our more environmentally friendly Dreamliners to both the leisure and cost-conscious business traveller.”

The British Airline Pilots Association (Balpa) entered into a new agreement with Norse Atlantic in September, which the union claimed “will deliver hundreds of jobs in the UK”.

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