Norwegian History
Norwegian Air Shuttle, commonly known as Norwegian, is a low-cost airline based in Norway. It was founded in 1993 and started operations in 1993 as a regional airline within Scandinavia. However, it wasn't until 2002 that Norwegian transformed into a low-cost carrier and began offering international flights.
Over the years, Norwegian has experienced significant growth and expansion. In 2003, the airline established its first base outside of Norway in Stockholm, Sweden. This marked the beginning of its international expansion, with new routes being added to destinations across Europe.
In 2013, Norwegian made a bold move by launching long-haul flights, becoming the first low-cost carrier in Europe to offer transatlantic services. This expansion allowed the airline to connect Europe with popular destinations in the United States and Asia, offering affordable fares to travelers.
More Airline Insights & Tips
Here are a few of helpful resources & tips that can further enhance your knowledge of Norwegian airlines and how to best be prepared for your trip:
- Delays are an unfortunate fact of the life of an air traveler. Arm yourself against surprises by knowing the flight status of your DY Norwegian flight before heading to the airport, as this could save you a lot of time, or even your trip to the airport if your flight is canceled.
- Info can be found here on Norwegian’s company structure, headquarters, etc.
- See which partnerships and alliances Norwegian has here. This is useful if you want to build up your frequent flyer points on partner airlines.
- Want to know which plane types are in service? Check out DY’s fleet list here.
- When considering a flight booking on Norwegian, be aware that third-party travel sites might require you to use their customer service instead of Norwegian's, which may be less than ideal in certain situations.
Beyond the history presented here for Norwegian, if you’re wanting more aviation history, read about the history of commercial flight here, or the history of the airline industry here.
Despite facing financial challenges and intense competition in the aviation industry, Norwegian continued to grow its route network and fleet. The airline introduced new aircraft, such as the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which enhanced its long-haul capabilities and improved passenger comfort.
However, in recent years, Norwegian faced significant setbacks, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the travel industry. The airline had to reduce its operations and implement cost-cutting measures to survive the crisis. In 2021, Norwegian underwent a major restructuring process and emerged as a smaller, more focused airline.
Today, Norwegian operates a fleet of modern aircraft and serves a wide range of destinations in Europe, the United States, and Asia. It continues to prioritize offering affordable fares and a high level of customer service to its passengers.
For more information about this airline, check out our comprehensive Norwegian Guide.
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