Low-cost carrier Norwegian says it will use its latest B737 MAX single-aisle aircraft on selected short-haul routes from Gatwick airport this summer.
The new aircraft is designed to be more environmentally friendly, reducing both carbon and noise impact, and also offers quieter cabins for passengers.
Norwegian is due to take delivery of 12 of the aircraft type in 2018, with eight currently in operation on transatlantic routes from Edinburgh, Belfast, Dublin, Cork and Shannon.
The B737 Max that will operate from Gatwick is configured with 189 leather Recaro seats with a seat pitch of up to 30 inches – 38 inches for exit-row seats – and will operate flights to Helsinki, Oslo and Bergen. Norwegian says it plans to expand to other European routes following delivery of more aircraft.
The carrier has more than 100 B737 MAX aircraft on order and will use them to replace its fleet of 737-8s as part of its renewal plans.
Thomas Ramdahl, CCO at Norwegian, said: “Our 737 MAX aircraft are less than a year old and our passengers will be able to experience a high-quality service in new slimmer seats inside spacious cabins that are quieter for our passengers and the environment.”
Andy Sinclair, head of airspace at Gatwick, said: “We are fully committed to reducing noise for our local communities and will continue to work closely with our airline partners to support the introduction of quieter aircraft at Gatwick. The launch of this new Norwegian aircraft is another positive step for those affected by noise around the airport, as we expect the proportion of quieter aircraft at Gatwick to increase over the coming years.”
norwegian.com