Nowergian

Norwegian Air Shuttle has entered into an agreement to acquire four new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft as part of its plans to expand international operations, bringing the total wide-body aircraft on order by the airline to 14.

Norwegian has signed the agreement with International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC) to lease four Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, which are expected to enter service in 2017 and 2018.

Norwegian CEO Bjørn Kjos said: "I’m very satisfied to have secured an additional four 787-9 Dreamliners. This is a great airplane with high passenger comfort, long range and low fuel burn."

Norwegian currently has three 787-8 Dreamliners in its fleet, with further five aircraft on order; the carrier also has two 787-9 Dreamliner jets on order for delivery in the first quarter of 2016.

Overall, Norwegian has ordered a fleet of 14 long-haul aircraft, with four aircraft entering service in 2014, one in 2015, two in 2016, two in 2017 and two in 2018.

Boeing’s 787-9 Dreamliner is an enhanced version of 787-8 with improved capacity to accommodate more passengers, more fuel efficient and more environmentally friendly.

The aircraft maker has conducted several successful test flights with the aircraft type, which is scheduled to enter commercial service in 2014.


Image: Norwegian has signed the agreement with ILFC to lease four Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. Photo: courtesy of Norwegian Air Shuttle ASA.

Defence Technology