Why Norse Atlantic will be flying to Nigeria this summer

Norwegian low-cost airline Norse Atlantic is heading for Nigeria. The addition of the West African nation is unusual for the carrier, which usually flies from Europe to the United States and the Caribbean. The new service will link Lagos to London and operate as a charter for Nigerian airline Air Peace. Known in the industry as an ‘ACMI’ contract, it provides the airplane, crew, maintenance, and insurance to the charter client. The move has been described by Norse as marking “the beginning of a strategic partnership” between the two companies. The Norwegian airline has an all-Boeing fleet of 15 787 Dreamliners, however it is not flying all of them. The carrier has entered into various sub-leasing deals, including with Spanish operator Air Europa to better leverage its assets. Norse signed a long-term aircraft leasing contract on very favorable terms during the peak of the pandemic. The airline says this low cost-base allows it to be more nimble and park planes during quieter periods. In recent months, it has trimmed back its flying program, with cuts to some transatlantic destinations and a renewed focus on core markets such as New York and Florida.<br/>