Living up to its slogan of being “The Explorer's Airline,” Norse Atlantic Airways made history on Sunday with the completion of its first-ever nonstop charter flight from Norway to Australia. 
 

The inaugural flight left Oslo Gardermoen Airport at 6:30 AM on Saturday, August 3 and landed at Darwin International Airport at 6 AM on Saturday, August 4 for a total flight time of 16.5 hours.

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The lengthy non-stop flight was chartered by AlbaStar, a Spain-based carrier, and was only able to be completed thanks to the long-range performance and efficiency of Norse Atlantic Airways’ Boeing 787-9.

In fact, according to Mette Birkedahl, Director Charter and ACMI Norse Atlantic Airways, without the high performance capabilities of the Boeing 787-9, the 14,730 kilometers flight would not even be possible. 

"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," said Birkedhal in a release. "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."

This isn’t the first time that Norse Atlantic Airways made history with a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

In November 2023, Norse Atlantic Airways landed the Boeing 787 Dreamliner at Troll Airfield in Antarctica. Antarctica does not have any conventional paved runways, so Norse Atlantic Airways had to land on what was called a “blue ice runway,” which was just 3,000 meters long and 60 meters wide.

So why did Norse Atlantic Airways complete such an arduous flight?

It was all for science.

Carrying a total of 45 passengers, Norse Atlantic Airways flew to Antarctica to transport scientists from the Norwegian Polar Institute and 12 tons of essential research equipment to a research station in Queen Maud Land. The flight traveled from Oslo to Cape Town, South Africa before heading to Antarctica.

The Boeing 787’s massive cargo space coupled with its performance and efficiency made this historic flight possible. 

"The 787 Dreamliner stands out for its exceptional fuel efficiency, enabling a round-trip flight from Cape Town to Antarctica without the need for refueling, “said Paul Erlandsson, Field Service Representative from Boeing in a release. “This not only ensures swift turnarounds but also significantly benefits the environment by eliminating logistical complexities of transporting, storing, and handling fuel in Antarctica. Paired with the aircraft's impressive 150 cubic meters of cargo capacity distributed across three cargo holds, and a cargo loading system designed for easy handling of pallets and containers, the Dreamliner excels at meeting the demands of this mission."

The Boeing 787 isn’t all about performance. It was also designed to provide unrivaled comfort and reduce the effects of jet lag for its passengers with large windows, awesome cabin pressure and higher humidity levels. Plus, its quieter engines offer a more peaceful journey.

With the standout features and excellent performance of the Boeing 787, don’t be surprised if Norse Atlantic Airways continues to push the boundaries of modern-day exploration.