- We will grow “one SAS” year – Call Blad

On Friday, Norwegian’s Irish subsidiary a tentative yes from the US Department of Transportation to operate air traffic in the United States .

Thus Kjos take a two year old business up from the tray.

– There is a huge growth potential, says Norwegian’s CEO Bjørn Kjos to Dagens Næringsliv.

Now a powerful establishment between Europe and the United States. In 2017 and 2018 are the establishment in South America and Africa trip.

– Henceforth we will expand with “one SAS” a year on long distance, said Kjos.

From 2017 the Norwegian gain nine new Dreamliner aircraft annually. Kjos says that nine major Dreamliner aircraft can carry as many passengers as the entire long-haul fleet to SAS. Earlier this year the Norwegian alliance with Ryanair .

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– the application has been too long

– there is a permit issued by the US Department of transportation. It is an application that has been inside too long, says communications director Anne-Sissel Skånvik in Norwegian NTB before the weekend.

Friday’s permission is provisional. A final consultation round remains before it becomes clear whether Kjos and the company can launch the long-planned route from Cork in Ireland to Boston in the United States.

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Disappointed pilots

When Norwegian first applied for flylisens in the US, asked the American pilot union transport ministry to reject the application. Tim Canoll, head of the trade union ALPA which organizes 52,000 pilots from 30 different companies, are not happy with Friday’s news.

– We are extremely disappointed by the decision. This is a violation of free competition in the air, says Canoll to Dagens Næringsliv.

– Norwegian has selected business address based on the country has favorable tax regimes and regulatory frameworks. It gives Norwegian enormous competitive advantage over American companies, which must adhere to US laws and regulations. This is not a healthy market, continues Canoll.

Norwegian seeking more

In December last year let Norwegian a new application to the US Department of Transportation, the time for a new subsidiary in UK. According to E24 would discount the company to create their own companies outside Norway to not only be able to fly between their home country and abroad. It is a process that continues even in the event of a “yes” to the Irish subsidiary.

– We use the Norwegian license, but it has limitations. Many states require that one is an EU country to operate routes there, and there are also countries that require certain bilateral agreements, says communications director told the newspaper. (© NTB)