Norwegian Air to close long-range routes and reduce 90 aircraft

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

Norwegian Air said on Thursday that it plans to close its long-haul aviation business, cut about 2,150 jobs in Britain, France, the United States, Spain and other countries, and permanently reduce its European short-haul routes and Norwegian domestic routes to deal with the new crown crisis and complete debt Reorganization.

Norwegian Air also plans to reduce the existing 140 aircraft in the fleet to about 50, including all 787 Dreamliner aircraft. The plan is subject to approval by a bankruptcy court in Ireland. Since the outbreak last year, Norwegian Air's 1,100 British crew members and pilots have been forced to take leave. Norwegian Air was once the third largest airline company at Gatwick Airport in the United Kingdom, but it was hit hard by the epidemic. Norwegian Air sought relief from the Norwegian government in November last year, but was rejected by the Norwegian government and had to file for bankruptcy protection for its two core subsidiaries. Previously, the Norwegian government announced that it did not intend to provide any additional direct support to the airline. Norwegian Air's market share has shrunk sharply in the past year.