The FINANCIAL — On February 24 Norwegian took delivery of its first 787-9 Dreamliner. “This marks our continued commitment to the company’s global expansion ensuring travellers across that world access to high quality flights at a low fare,” Norwegian’s CEO Bjørn Kjos said.
Norwegian already operates eight 787-8s and will use its 787-9s to launch new routes across North America, South America and South-East Asia. The 787-9 complements and extends the super-efficient 787 family. With the fuselage stretched by 20 feet (6 meters) over the 787-8, the 787-9 will fly more passengers and more cargo farther with the same exceptional environmental performance — 20 percent less fuel use and 20 percent fewer emissions than similarly sized airplanes, according to Norwegian.
“The delivery of Norwegian’s first 787-9 marks our continued commitment to the company’s global expansion ensuring travellers across the world access to high quality flights at a low fare. The 787-9 will give Norwegian unrivalled operational advantages, large improvements in fuel efficiency and much lower costs,” said Norwegian’s CEO Bjørn Kjos.
The Swedish actress Greta Garbo adorns the tail of the aircraft. Its first commercial flight will commence on February 27, from Oslo to Orlando and the aircraft will operate routes to and from Gatwick.
Norwegian will lease its first 787-9 Dreamliner from New York-based leasing company MG Aviation.
Norwegian currently has eight 787-8s in its fleet. It has 30 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft on order in addition to 100 Boeing 737 MAX, 100 Airbus A320neo and 34 Boeing 737-800s. Norwegian has one of the most modern fleets in the world, and was voted the most environmentally transatlantic airline in 2015 by The International Council on Clean Transportation.
Norwegian first launched UK flights in 2003 and is Europe’s third largest low-cost airline. The carrier operates from London Gatwick, Edinburgh, Birmingham and Manchester Airports to 34 destinations worldwide.
Norwegian is the third largest airline at London Gatwick, with 3.9 million yearly passengers, and with 130 pilots and 300 cabin crewworking from its Gatwick base
In 2014, Norwegian introduced the UK’s first low-cost, long haul flights to the U.S. flying direct from Gatwick to New York, Fort Lauderdale and Los Angeles
Norwegian is the only airline to offer free inflight WiFi on UK flights to more than 30 European destinations
The airline has one of the youngest aircraft fleets in the world with an average age of four years, including next-generation Boeing 787 Dreamliners and Boeing 737-800s
Norwegian has been voted ‘Europe’s best low-cost carrier’ by passengers for three consecutive years at SkyTrax World Airline Awards, and was also the first airline to be awarded the ‘World’s best low-cost long-haul airline’ in 2015 by SkyTrax.
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