Norwegian to operate latest Boeing 737 MAX aircraft from London Gatwick

Credit: Luke Grima

Airline among the first carriers to operate Boeing’s newest aircraft type at Gatwick Airport
737 MAX to initially be operated on selected Nordic routes

Norwegian is introducing its newest single-aisle aircraft at London Gatwick this summer to service selected short-haul flights to Europe. For the first time, the airline is operating the new Boeing 737 MAX aircraft to and from London Gatwick which, not only reduces carbon and noise impact, but also provides customers with brand new high-quality cabins with a quieter ambience.

The world’s fifth largest low-cost carrier is the European launch customer of the Boeing 737 MAX and will take delivery of 12 of this aircraft type in 2018. Norwegian currently has eight 737 MAX aircraft in operation which are used on transatlantic routes from Edinburgh, Belfast, Dublin, Cork and Shannon to New York Stewart International Airport and Providence Airport in Rhode Island near Boston with fares from £99 one way at www.norwegian.com/uk.

This summer, Norwegian will operate the Boeing 737 MAX, configured with 189 leather RECARO seats offering up to 30 inches pitch and 38 inches pitch in exit row seats on flights to the Nordics from London Gatwick. The aircraft will initially service selected flights to Helsinki, Oslo and Bergen with further plans to expand to other European routes following future deliveries of this aircraft.

The 737 MAXis fitted with CFM International LEAP-1B engines with the latest quiet-engine technology which are up to 40 per cent quieter than Norwegian’s existing Boeing 737-800s used on European routes. The aircraft offers up to 20 per cent greater fuel efficiency and Norwegian has started to introduce brand new slimline seats to its 737 MAX fleet, which are 1kg lighter and specifically designed to provide enhanced comfort and more personal space to passengers.

Thomas Ramdahl, Chief Commercial Officer at Norwegian said: “We’re committed to flying our customers in the newest aircraft in the skies and the addition of the Boeing 737 MAX at our London Gatwick hub complements our existing young, modern and environmentally friendly fleet.

“Our 737 MAX aircraft are less than a year old and our passengers will be able to experience a high-quality service in new slimmer seats inside spacious cabins that are quieter for our passengers and the environment.”

Gatwick Airport’s Head of Airspace, Andy Sinclair, said: “We are fully committed to reducing noise for our local communities and will continue to work closely with our airline partners to support the introduction of quieter aircraft at Gatwick.”

“The launch of this new Norwegian aircraft is another positive step for those affected by noise around the airport, as we expect the proportion of quieter aircraft at Gatwick to increase over the coming years.”

Norwegian has more than 100 Boeing 737 MAX on order and will eventually use these aircraft to replace its older Boeing 737-800s as part of its fleet renewal plans.

Passengers on board the 737 MAX can either enjoy in-flight entertainment from their personal devices or Norwegian’s overhead video in-flight entertainment system. Norwegian plans to commence the rollout of in-flight Wi-Fi on the 737 MAX later this year.

Europe’s third largest low-cost airline operates a fleet of modern aircraft at an average age of 3.7 years and carried more than 33 million passengers in 2017 to more than 150 global destinations. Norwegian has been voted the Best Low-Cost Long-Haul Airline for four consecutive years at the renowned SkyTrax Awards, and Europe’s Best Low-Cost Airline for six consecutive years.