Norwegian Air Shuttle are marching forward as they prepare to launch 787 services in May 2013.
The configuration of the aircraft has been revealed:
- Premium Class will feature 32 seats in a 2-2-2 configuration with a 46″ seat pitch
- Economy Class will feature 259 seats in a 3-3-3 configuration with a 31″ seat pitch
Seats will be all leather style, supplied by Timco. No confirmation of type of IFE systems that will be installed has yet to be revealed.
The aircraft will operate Norwegian Air Shuttle’s long haul services, with services from Oslo and Stockholm to New York and Bangkok, with its staff for the 787 fleet being based in Bangkok. For each 787 a total of 23 pilots and 70 cabin crew will be assigned, with 2 pilots and 6 cabin crew assigned per flight.
The first 787 Dreamliner will be delivered in April 2013. Norwegian will take delivery of two more aircraft in 2013, four in 2014 and one in 2015.
With a lower cost base and newer equipment, Norwegian Air Shuttle will be in a serious position to give SAS a big run for their money – even as SAS reorganises itself.
It’ll be intresting to see new operators take the 787 on during the next year and seeing what they do with it. The days of ANA and JAL with low density and long routes are fast going with carriers concentrating on load from what I can see though….