In a milestone moment for aviation – though one that went relatively under the radar – Norse Atlantic Airways recently operated a non-stop passenger flight between Norway and Australia, the first for any airline.
Using Norse’s Boeing 787-9, the historic flight took off from Oslo Gardermoen Airport, Norway at 6.30am on 3 August, touching down at Darwin International Airport at 6am on 4 August.
Whilst only a charter service, the flight shows the efficiency and potential application of the Dreamliner aircraft – the same plane Qantas uses for its non-stop Perth to Paris flights.
Chartered by Spanish airline Albastar SA, the flight covered around 14,730 kilometres with a flight time of 16.5 hours.
“Completing this charter flight between Norway and Darwin, a first in aviation, is a testament to our commitment to consistently delivering excellent service to our charter clients,” Norse Atlantic Airways Charter Director Mette Birkedahl said.
“The Boeing 787-900 Dreamliner is the perfect aircraft for ultra long-distance flying and we are proud to demonstrate its capabilities on this historic route.”
Norse says the landmark flight also shows how the airline is expanding while enhancing its customer service.
According to the carrier, the 787-9 offers reduced fuel consumption and 25 per cent lower CO2 emissions.
The Aussie flight wasn’t the first time Norse Atlantic Airways has broken barriers. In 2023, the Oslo-based carrier became the first airline to land a B787 on a ‘blue ice runway’, measuring 3,000 metres long and 60 metres wide, in Antarctica at Troll Airfield.
