Norse Atlantic Airways

Norse Atlantic Airways is a Norwegian long-haul airline that sells low fares on wide-body Boeing 787 Dreamliners. It is headquartered in Arendal, Norway, and is owned by Norse Atlantic ASA, which is listed on the Oslo stock exchange. A British subsidiary, Norse Atlantic UK, holds its own operating certificate and flies the London Gatwick routes. Alongside its own scheduled flights, Norse leases aircraft with crews to other airlines (known as ACMI or wet leasing) and flies charters, and in 2026 that side of the business has become central to its plans.

Founding and launch

The company was founded in February 2021 by Bjørn Tore Larsen, who was its first chief executive and is now chairman. Many of its executives had previously worked for Norwegian Air Shuttle or its contractors, and its first 787s, leased from AerCap and BOC Aviation, had been flown by Norwegian and kept their seating. Norse listed on the Oslo market in April 2021, received its Norwegian operating certificate in December 2021 and flew its first service, Oslo to New York JFK, on 14 June 2022. Norse Atlantic UK received its British certificate in September 2022.

Business model

The 787s have two cabins, Premium (sold as Biz Premium) and Economy, with seat-back screens in both. Fares are sold in Light, Classic and Flextra versions, and extras such as checked bags are charged according to the fare. Norse also sells connections through virtual interlining with other airlines.

In August 2026 the company said it was "fully transitioning to an Airline on Demand", meaning a flexible mix of its own routes, charters and ACMI work. Wikipedia reports that 75 administrative jobs were cut in May 2026 as part of that restructuring, and that Eivind Roald, formerly of SAS, became chief executive in November 2025.

Network

Norse began with transatlantic routes from Oslo in 2022 and later flew to North America from Berlin, London Gatwick, Paris, Rome and Athens, adding the Caribbean and Bangkok from late 2023. The US network has since been cut back. The Q2 2026 report mentions the cancellation of the Los Angeles summer programme, and Wikipedia says that from October 2026 only the Gatwick–Orlando route to the United States remains. In its September 2026 traffic update, dated 7 October 2026, Norse said it had adjusted its winter programme with more focus on the Far East and was flying reduced capacity because of high fuel prices. It carried 109,202 passengers that month across its own network and ACMI and charter flights, 32% fewer than a year earlier, at a load factor of 96.9%.

Fleet and leases

Norse said on 20 August 2026 that it operates 12 Boeing 787 Dreamliners; its 9 October 2026 release specifies the 787-9. Aircraft move in and out of its own schedule as lease deals change:

• July 2026: Norse announced that its ACMI agreement with IndiGo would end later in 2026.
• 9 October 2026: it signed an ACMI agreement with Pakistan International Airlines for two 787-9s, providing aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance on flights between the UK and Pakistan from the start of November 2026.
• Norse has said its Project Falcon cost programme targets annual savings from 2027.