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What's the deal with Norwegian Airlines?

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  • What's the deal with Norwegian Airlines?

    They are surrounded in controversy for circumventing the pilot's unions, that's about all I know.

    A search today for flights from JFK on Hipmunk.com returns Norwegian operated flights on EuroAtlantic (777) Hemus (787??!! um, no) and Hifly. Obviously they are frantically leasing aircraft to cover their scheduled 787 service.

    Does anyone know why?

  • #2
    Basically the ALPA is heated up about the way Norwegian is conducting business. Hiring pilots and crew from its Bangkok base, relocating the long-haul headquarters to Ireland etc etc.
    This of course allows Norwegian to offer much cheaper fares across the Atlantic, especially even more so with the 787, and of course that makes it harder for others to compete. Here's an article that basically sums it up (it's not very recent but does the job):

    Source: San Francisco Business Times.

    The leased aircraft are most likely temporary replacements for the problematic 787s in the fleet.

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    • #3
      Originally posted by Foxtrot View Post
      Basically the ALPA is heated up about the way Norwegian is conducting business. Hiring pilots and crew from its Bangkok base, relocating the long-haul headquarters to Ireland etc etc.
      This of course allows Norwegian to offer much cheaper fares across the Atlantic, especially even more so with the 787, and of course that makes it harder for others to compete. Here's an article that basically sums it up (it's not very recent but does the job):

      Source: San Francisco Business Times.

      The leased aircraft are most likely temporary replacements for the problematic 787s in the fleet.
      I did read that in the WSJ - does this mean the pilots are Thai or are less qualified than the ALPA standards?

      But the burning question here is what is the problem with their 787s that could take them out of service for three months? Could this just be delayed compliance with the AD's from the FAA fleetwide grounding?

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      • #4
        The problems with Norwegian's 787s have been varied - brake malfunctions, electrical problems, fuel leaks etc. It wasn't just one plane that was having problems, it was several. Boeing actually sent 15 technicians to Stockholm last year to address issues just on Norwegian's Dreamliners. It appears checking on FlightAware that the 787s have been flying regularly now without many problems to/from LAX and FLL. It looks like JFK flights have indeed been affected the most. Hopefully Boeing gets all the remaining problems sorted out soon.

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        • #5
          Originally posted by Evan View Post
          I did read that in the WSJ - does this mean the pilots are Thai or are less qualified than the ALPA standards?

          (...)
          Moving the headquarters to Ireland has the advantage that Norwegian can claim routes under the US-EU open skies agreement. However, their crews will have to be trained to EU standards, so I assume they are as qualified as they come.

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