Norwegian-based Norse Atlantic Airways has completed the first-ever nonstop charter flight from Norway to Australia.
The flight took off from Oslo Gardermoen Airport (OSL) on August 3, 2024, at 06:30 local time and landed at Darwin International Airport (DRW) the following day, August 4, 2024, at 06:00 local time.
The flight was operated by a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft.
According to Norse Atlantic Airways, the flight took 16.5 hours, and the journey was approximately 14,730 kilometers.
The flight was booked by AlbaStar, a private Spanish airline headquartered in Palma, Majorca, and brokered by Aircontact, Scandinavia’s largest and leading air broker firm.
“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,” Mette Birkedahl, Director Charter and ACMI Norse Atlantic Airways, said in a press release.
He added: “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.”
The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner is designed for long-haul flights and has a range of up to 15,400 kilometers. Additionally, it produces 25% lower CO2 emissions and reduces fuel consumption compared to older aircraft models.
In 2023, Norse Atlantic Airways became the first airline to land a Boeing 787 Dreamliner on a 3,000-meter-long and 60-meter-wide ‘blue ice’ runway at Troll Aerodrome in Antarctica on behalf of the Norwegian Polar Institute.