With the FIFA World Cup having just passed the semi-final stage, all eyes are on the tournament. When England reached the semis, Norse Atlantic UK, the British arm of Norwegian carrier Norse Atlantic Airways, operated a special flight for fans to attend the World Cup match in Atlanta, USA.
Route and Schedule
The carrier announced the special flight after England’s victory over Norway on July 12. Norse has assigned a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner to the route, configured in a two-class layout with 56 seats in premium economy and 282 in economy, for a total of 338 seats.
The flight is scheduled to depart London Gatwick (LGW) at 7:40 p.m. on July 14, arriving at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) at 11:30 p.m. the same day. The return flight leaves Atlanta on July 16 at 10:30 p.m., arriving back at Gatwick at 11:25 a.m. local time on July 17.
Eivind Roald, CEO of Norse Atlantic Airways, said:
“We have spent the past weeks helping Norwegian fans follow their team across the United States. After England’s win, it felt completely natural to offer English supporters the same opportunity. Gatwick is one of our largest airports, and we want to help make the semi-final journey possible for as many fans as we can.”
Norse had, under its “Airline on Demand” model, been operating special charter flights for Norwegian football fans throughout the tournament.
“These flights are not just about getting from one airport to another. They are about bringing supporters together. We have seen how powerful that can be for Norwegian fans, and we want England supporters to feel that the semi-final starts the moment they step on board,” Roald added.
Norway-England football ties
According to an airline statement, although Norway’s World Cup journey ended at the hands of England last weekend, the connection between Norwegian and English football remains strong.
“Generations of Norwegians have grown up watching English football on television, following English clubs and travelling to matches in the UK. For many Norwegian fans, English football has been part of their football upbringing,” said the statement.
The airline added that it would have liked to see Norway go through and beat England in the quarter-final, but said there is “something special” about England reaching the semi-final, citing the strong football ties between the two nations.
According to ch-aviation data, parent company Norse Atlantic Airways currently operates a fleet of 12 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, with five wet-leased to IndiGo (6E). The remaining aircraft operate scheduled and charter flights to destinations across North America, Europe and Asia.
Fan service, marketing play, or both? Let us know what you think in the comments.
