Norwegian Air puts Dreamliner talks on hold

Budget airline Norwegian Air has suspended talks on buying 20 Dreamliner planes from Boeing because of a delay in receiving US backing for its long-haul plans, according to its chief executive Bjoern

Budget airline Norwegian Air has suspended talks on buying 20 Dreamliner planes from Boeing because of a delay in receiving US backing for its long-haul plans, according to its chief executive Bjoern Kjos.

The airline may also reconsider plans to locate its long-haul operations in Ireland, giving up the advantage of having a European Union-based carrier, Mr Kjos told Transport Minister Leo Varadkar in a letter dated April 23.

Norwegian launched flights to the US and Bangkok from its Nordic bases last year and obtained an Irish air operatorsโ€™ certificate, hoping to base the business in the EU, where it can operate under more favourable conditions and take advantage of the Open Skies trade between the US and the EU.

Norwegian Air is operating its flights to the US under a temporary permit issued by the Oslo government.

Its application to the US Department of Transportation for a permanent license, made via Norwegianโ€™s Irish affiliate, has been fiercely contested by its rivals and by unions.

They argue that Norwegian Air is simply trying to escape high Nordic labour costs and wants to employ cheap Thai crew, gaining an unfair advantage.

โ€œUnfortunately, the delay in the Department of Transportation process has given us no other choice than to put our ongoing negotiations with Boeing to purchase 20 new 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft โ€” due to be registered in Ireland โ€” on hold until Norwegian Air Internationalโ€™s future in the US has been decided,โ€ Mr Kjos said in the letter.

โ€œAn additional delay โ€” or in the worst case, a negative decision by the US Department of Transportation โ€” may regrettably force us to reverse our commitment to build an international long-haul airline in Ireland,โ€ he said.

Norwegian has been expanding at breakneck pace in recent years and has more than 200 aircraft on order. It is opening bases across Europe and plans to take on one of the most competitive markets this summer, launching long-haul flights between London and New York.

If it left Ireland, where its long-haul planes are registered, it would rebase them in Norway, where it has a permit to operate, Mr Kjos said.

The firm already has commitments to buy or lease 14 Dreamliners but it has been looking for additional planes, because it consumes 20% less fuel than older jets. The 20 new Dreamliners have a combined list price of $5bn (โ‚ฌ3.60bn).

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Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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