Ultra low cost carrier Norse Atlantic Airways is launching a pretty cool new transatlantic route, as flagged by @IshrionA.
Continue reading: Norse Atlantic Launches Marathon Los Angeles To Athens Flights
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
I thought they were leasing all their aircraft to Indigo for long haul operations.Seems strange they are expanding their own schedules.Strange airline altogether.
They're also in the news nearly every other week about how they're going bankrupt lol
The plan is to lease out 6 of their 12 aircraft to Indigo with 2 delivered in February and 4 in September. But yeah I am surprised they are expanding scheduled service as they’ve expressed intent to wind it down. I have to fly Paris to LAX this summer and I chose to pay a little more for French Bee over Norse because Norse is notorious for schedule cuts (let alone the airline’s going concern)
It's articles like this where I am just so impressed with your knowledge of the industry. When I first saw the headline, I thought for sure there was competition on this route. The bullet points you lay out as to why there's no west coast service to ATH make total sense. Impressive stuff.
Have you every flown Norse Premium E39? It is actually the largest Premium Economy seat in the game, currently. Quite a value for the money, with nice service as well. Don't just make a comment because its the easy thing to do.
This airline is ran by "non-airline industry" people and it shows. Sure, this may look like an opportunity, but its not currently served for a reason, the economics just don't work. Oh well, I am sure their 95% load factors on a 13 hour flight with $300 ANF will work out for them. Can't wait to see their Q4 results....
Price is too low. $1200 for premium economy I’ll donate to them just to make sure they stay afloat. Norse is a blessing and anyone who’s taken their premium economy product knows what I’m talking about!
Fares are based on what the market will bear. Norse does not want 2/3rds empty planes. Competing on price is their model.
I've flown Norse Atlantic multiple times from Orlando to London Gatwick. I always get the bare bones ticket and bring my own food and drink. The planes are nice as is the basic seating. They are picky on the free personal item and carry ons. It better not exceed their measurements or you pay on the spot which costs more. They will check everyone because they have no app for online check-in. Just do your homework and don't expect to get over on them. I've already booked for London this summer with them. I hope they stay in business for the future because they are a great low cost carrier.
Back in the day, when Norwegian was still operating long-haul flights between Europe and the US, I and a fellow premium-cabin passenger made the same comment. We would have gladly paid twice the fare if it meant the airline would stay afloat. Alas, it did not.
I guess things have changed since Norwegian flew long haul!
I flew with them once and remember it as good enough for the price, but nothing I’d really book again. But, maybe Norse is different even though it’s the same guys with the same planes and same seats essentially
I never expected West Coast service to Athens to happen so soon. But, if anyone were to do it, it would be Norse. Secondary destinations in Europe such as Barcelona and Milan usually get these kinds of long haul service from a low cost carrier, and they test the market out for the more established carriers. I think there is a world where United could make SFO service work in a few years with increased demand and a codeshare agreement with Aegean, allowing them to turn ATH into a mini-star alliance hub. But I believe it is far off. Los Angeles demand to Athens is much higher than bay-area demand and no other carrier has the presence in LAX to justify this route. I hope the economics work out for Norse and maybe even encourage competition from the West Coast to Athens.
Finally a connection of West coast with Greece which has the premier European regional airline (Aegean Airlines) for connections to islands and neighboring Balkan countries. Hopefully this works out for Norse and either they or other airlines will try an SFO - Athens route next year. Amazing to think that the hour or so longer flight time to Greece vs flying time to Germany, negates the need to stop in Germany to transfer for a flight to Greece. Now travelers will stop once for a flight to the islands, most of which are reached in about an hour. Turkish Airlines has held a significant share of California travel to Greece, as Istanbul is the closest nonstop connection of the west coast to Greece. Competition for these routes will benefit travelers.
Maybe it's part of the service program that came with the planes ( Athens close to India in EU ) . When these planes flew for Norwegian, Service technicians were onboard the planes before the passengers disembarked especially in West Coast airports.
It’s a tricky premium eco as the seat is so far from the wall/window - so its quite difficult to lean against the wall to sleep if that’s what you like - I tend to combine diff neck pillows - an ostrich pillow and a j pillow and can sleep quite well against the wall - but I swear it’s like 3 feet on this plane!