The pilot strike in Norwegian is finally over

Press release -

The pilot strike in Norwegian is finally over

The Scandinavian pilot strike at Norwegian is finally over. Norwegian has gone to great lengths to reach an agreement to resolve the dispute, which has now lasted for 11 days. “I am very relieved that the strike has been called off and that our passengers finally can feel confident that our flights will operate as normal again. I am terribly sorry for the problems our passengers have experienced as a result of the pilot strike,” said Norwegian’s CEO Bjørn Kjos.

For Norwegian, it has been important to reach agreements that recognize the authority the company’s board and management have in order to continue to build a modern corporate structure that is internationally competitive. It has also been central to the negotiations not to abandon Norwegian’s right to control the company and the opportunity to adapt in an industry that is constantly changing. With the new collective agreement, the company has established a contributory pension (innskuddspensjon) for the pilots, a reduced Loss of License insurance, as well as a more flexible work schedule..

The Scandinavian pilots’ collective agreement has some of the best terms in the industry. The agreement has been signed with the Scandinavia pilot companies in which they are hired. In addition, the Norwegian Group has given an extraordinary guarantee of employment for all the pilots employed in Scandinavia. Such a guarantee is unique in Scandinavia, especially in a competitive industry like aviation. This guarantee is valid until October 2017.

“Thank you to all the passengers and employees”
“I am very relieved that the strike has been called off and that our passengers finally can feel confident that our flights will operate as normal again. The company has incurred substantial financial costs. It has been an extremely challenging period both for our passengers and our many employees who have been working day and night to take care of customers in the best possible way. I am also very grateful for the patience and support that we have received from the public,” said Norwegian’s CEO Bjørn Kjos.

It will take some time before our operations are back to normal as many of Norwegian’s aircraft and staff are not positioned for tomorrow’s traffic. Information about tomorrow’s flight program can be found here.

Media Contact:
Norwegian’s Press Office, + 47 815 11 816

More information about the terms:

  • A guarantee of employment for three years for all pilots in Scandinavia(i.e. a guarantee against downsizing in the pilot companies)
  • Master seniority list for all pilots based in Europe
  • No additional salary increase during 2015
  • A minimum of 184 days off per year (almost the same as today)
  • Marginal  changes in working hours and flexibility
  • Pension: Contributory pension (innskuddspensjon), including benefit pension scheme      (ytelsespensjon) for those who have 15 years or less left until retirement (65 years)
  • A Loss of License insurance of 30G; a tax-free payment of approximately 2.65 million NOK
  • Joint negotiation for the Norwegian, Swedish and Danish pilots

Topics

Norwegian Air Shuttle ASA, commercially branded “Norwegian”, is a low-cost airline listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange. Norwegian is the second largest airline in Scandinavia and third largest low cost carrier in Europe. The company reported its highest ever passenger figures in a single year with almost 24 million passengers in 2014. Norwegian has a route portfolio that stretches across Europe into North Africa and the Middle East, as well as long-haul flights to the US and Southeast Asia. The company has a total of 424 routes to 130 destinations and employs approximately 4,500 people in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Estonia, UK, Spain and Thailand. The company has 258 undelivered aircraft on firm order. Norwegian was founded in 1993 and its headquarter is in Fornebu, Norway. Norwegian offers better leg room than most competitors, in-flight WiFi on short haul, world-class punctuality and a fleet of 96 aircraft with an average age of only four years. In 2013 and 2014, Norwegian was voted Europe’s best low-cost carrier of the year by the renowned SkyTrax World Airline Awards. In 2014, Norwegian also won three prizes at the prestigious Passenger Choice Awards for Best Airline in Europe, Best Inflight Connectivity & Communications and Best Single Achievement in Passenger Experience for its moving map on the 787 Dreamliners. In addition, Norwegian was awarded Europe's best low-cost airline by AirlineRatings.com for the second year running.

Contacts

For journalists only

For journalists only

Press contact Norwegian Press Office +47 815 11 816
Marketing/sponsorhip requests: marketing@norwegian.com

Marketing/sponsorhip requests: marketing@norwegian.com

Press contact Marketing/sponsorship requests: marketing@norwegian.com

Norwegian.com

The Norwegian group is a leading Nordic aviation company, headquartered at Fornebu outside Oslo, Norway. The company has over 8,200 employees and owns two of the prominent airlines in the Nordics: Norwegian Air Shuttle and Widerøe’s Flyveselskap. Widerøe was acquired by Norwegian in 2024, aiming to facilitate seamless air travel across the two airline’s networks.

Norwegian Air Shuttle, the largest Norwegian airline with around 4,700 employees, operates an extensive route network connecting Nordic countries to key European destinations. In 2023, Norwegian carried over 20 million passengers and maintained a fleet of 87 Boeing 737-800 and 737 MAX 8 aircraft.

Widerøe’s Flyveselskap, Norway’s oldest airline, is Scandinavia’s largest regional carrier. The airline has more than 3,500 employees. Mainly operating the short-runway airports in rural Norway, Widerøe operates several state contract routes (PSO routes) in addition to its own commercial network. In 2023, the airline had 3.3 million passengers and a fleet of 48 aircraft, including 45 Bombardier Dash 8’s and three Embraer E190-E2's. Widerøe Ground Handling provides ground handling services at 41 Norwegian airports.

The Norwegian group has sustainability as a key priority and has committed to significantly reducing carbon emissions from its operations. Among numerous initiatives, the most noteworthy is the investment in production and use of fossil-free aviation fuel (SAF). Norwegian strives to become the sustainable choice for its passengers, actively contributing to the transformation of the aviation industry.

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