Founded on January 22, 1993, Norwegian Airlines, also known as Norwegian Shuttle, stands as the largest airline in Norway, offering low-cost travel options. In terms of passenger numbers, it ranks as the fourth-largest airline in Europe, trailing only behind EasyJet, Ryanair, and Wizz Air. Among Scandinavian airlines, it holds the position of the second-largest, and in Europe, it ranks as the ninth-largest. Norwegian Airlines is distinguished by its extensive domestic flight network within Scandinavia and Finland, catering to both business destinations like London and leisure spots in the Mediterranean and the Canary Islands. In 2016, it transported over 30 million passengers, and its aircraft are recognizable by their distinctive white livery with a red nose, featuring portraits of high achievers on the tail fins.

Norwegian flights are operated by Norwegian Airlines itself and wholly-owned subsidiaries, such as Norwegian Air Sweden and Norwegian Air Norway, each holding a unique air operator's certificate. These subsidiaries share branding and commercial functions with the group, maintaining a cohesive corporate identity.

Previously, Norwegian also owned and operated Norwegian Air Argentina until December 2019, handling domestic flights within the country.

Additionally, Norwegian Air UK and Norwegian Long Haul were subsidiaries focused on long-haul flights. However, both were liquidated due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Until April 2021, Norwegian operated through its Ireland-based entity, Norwegian International, for operations outside Norway and Sweden.

Historical Journey (1993-2001)

NAS, the Norwegian Air Shuttle, was established on January 22, 1993, to assume regional airline services previously provided by Busy Bee for Braathens in Western Norway. Busy Bee, a subsidiary of Braathens founded in 1966, operated a fleet of 50 Fokker aircraft on charter services, including regional routes along the west coast of Norway under a wet lease agreement.

Following Busy Bee's bankruptcy in December 1992, NAS took over the three leased Fokker 50 aircraft. The airline initiated its first service from Bergen to Alesund Airport on April 1, 1994. By 1995, with a revenue of NOK 86.6 million and a profit of NOK 2.9 million, NAS operated 50 daily services.

Expanding Horizons (2002-2009)

In November 2001, Braathens was acquired by Scandinavian Airline Systems (SAS), leading to the cancellation of Norwegian Airlines' contracts with Braathens for various routes. However, NAS had an 18-month cancellation period in its contract with Braathens, allowing it to respond.

In April 2002, NAS announced its intention to enter the domestic scheduled services market as a low-cost carrier on high-demand routes. The airline also established a second hub at Warsaw Frederic Chopin Airport for flights to Central European destinations, initially operating with two Boeing 737 aircraft. Notably, on April 24, 2007, Norwegian Airlines acquired 100% ownership of the Swedish airline FlyNordic.

Moreover, the airline placed an order for 42 new Boeing 737-800 aircraft on August 30, 2007.

The Path to Global Reach (2010-2017)

Beginning in October 2009, Norwegian Airlines announced its plans to launch flights from Oslo to New York and Bangkok, necessitating new intercontinental aircraft. In November 2010, it confirmed leasing two new Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft with delivery set for 2012.

On January 25, 2012, Norwegian Airlines unveiled one of the most substantial aircraft orders in European history, comprising 22 Boeing 737-800 and approximately 100 Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft. The airline also established a new base at London Gatwick in the spring of 2013, introducing Boeing flights to various international routes from London to destinations in Spain, France, Italy, Croatia, and Portugal.

Navigating Challenges and Adapting (2020)

In response to the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, Norwegian Airlines outlined plans in April 2020 to qualify for a government loan from the state. These plans included debt conversion and the adjustment of leasing commitments to equity. On June 17, 2020, the airline began adding flights from Norway to Denmark and Sweden for the month of July.

Corporate Structure

Norwegian Air Shuttle ASA, the parent company, listed its shares on the Oslo Stock Exchange under the symbol NAS. The Norwegian Group encompasses parent companies and subsidiaries in Denmark, Ireland, Finland, Norway, Spain, the UK, and Sweden.