Norse Atlantic Airways is now able to begin direct flights from the UK, having received an Air Operator Certificate (AOC) and operating licence from the UK Civil Aviation Authority.
The carrier launched its Gatwick-New York JFK service in August, with Business Traveller’s editorial director Tom Otley on the inaugural flight.
It said that there is strong demand for air travel between the UK and the US and that it is “keen to operate between London Gatwick and a number of US destinations”, subject to further regulatory approvals. It emphasised that it is interested in routes that are currently not served by direct flights or lack sufficient capacity.
Bjorn Tore Larsen, CEO of Norse Atlantic Airways, commented:
“The United Kingdom will be a vital part of our network going forward and the granting of an AOC and Operating Licence by the UK Civil Aviation Authority to Norse Atlantic will provide further choice and affordable prices to consumers and businesses on both sides of the Atlantic.
“We are proud to be employing local pilots and cabin crew at our London Gatwick base and have established close working relationships with the British pilot union BALPA, the cabin crew union Unite and the American cabin crew union AFA. We look forward to ramping up our operations between London and the US ready for our Summer 2023 schedule.”
Norse Atlantic also holds an AOC in Norway, which it says provides “greater flexibility and opportunities for the company to expand in the future from European points and the UK, in line with demand”. Flights to and from the UK will be operated by both UK and US based cabin crew.
The carrier also recently outlined plans for seven US routes from Gatwick, and has partnered with Easyjet, Norwegian and Spirit to offer a virtual interline agreement enabling 600 weekly connections at its hubs in Oslo, London, Berlin, New York, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando and Los Angeles.