Norse Atlantic Airways (N0, Oslo Gardermoen) has caused a fuss in Florida by announcing it will move its operations from Fort Lauderdale International to Miami International, just days after starting flight operations to Fort Lauderdale from London Gatwick. The switch is scheduled for September 18.
The low-cost long-haul carrier operates to the Floridian airport from Gatwick 3x weekly through its British AOC, Norse Atlantic (United Kingdom) (Z0, London Gatwick), launching the route on May 26. It also flies there 2x weekly from Oslo Gardermoen via the Norwegian AOC.
However, according to schedules data released in recent days, it will terminate the Fort Lauderdale routes from Oslo and London on September 15 and 17, respectively, and start the two routes to Miami on September 18.
On May 31, Norse Atlantic Airways announced its first flights to Miami, 4x weekly from Gatwick and 2x weekly from Oslo. CEO Bjorn Tore Larsen said the destination will be added as part of its winter route network, elaborating: “Miami has high levels of passenger demand with both direct and connecting traffic volumes greater than other airports in the region.” Miami also offers “our cargo customers increased choice and flexibility.”
Customers travelling to and from Fort Lauderdale after mid-September “will be rebooked onto our new Miami service or offered a full refund,” the airline said.
Fort Lauderdale airport operator Broward County Aviation Department said in a press release that it was “very disappointed to learn of Norse Atlantic Airways’ decision to discontinue its FLL flight operations and relocate service to Miami. While BCAD had high hopes that this budding relationship with Norse would grow and blossom into a mutually beneficial, established, and long-term collaboration, we wish them well in their future endeavours.”
The routes are currently the only ones connecting Fort Lauderdale with Europe, the ch-aviation capacities module shows. El Al Israel Airlines plans a direct service there from Tel Aviv Ben Gurion from September 13. The Palm Beach Post reported that the Norse Atlantic routes offered Palm Beach County residents “an alternative to making the long drive to Miami, from where several non-stop flights to London are scheduled daily.”
In Miami, Norse Atlantic Airways will be entitled to a one-year waiver of landing fees and other incentives that are given to all new entrant airlines that commit to at least one continuous year of service. Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach International airports have similar incentive schemes.
