Norse Atlantic, the long-haul low-cost carrier based in Norway, continues to explore new market segments. In addition to its main focus on transatlantic flights departing from Europe, the low-cost, long-haul airline is now heading to Africa. On Monday, 28 October, the airline celebrated the launch of its inaugural service from London Gatwick to Cape Town, South Africa. 

Flight data from Flightradar shows the inaugural flight embarked on an 11-hour journey, departing London Gatwick airport at 8:30 pm local time and arriving in Cape Town at 9:50 am local time the next day, aboard the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners equipped with registration G-CKQF. The new route will operate three times a week. Flight Z0795 departs from Gatwick at 8:30 pm local time and arrives in Cape Town at 9:50 am local time the next day. The flight was fully booked with guests, including members of the press and airline CEO Bjørn Tore Larsen.

Norse Atlantic Airways marked the inaugural departure from London Gatwick with speeches by Stephanie Wear, Vice President of Aviation Development, Norse Atlantic Airways' Founder and CEO, Bjørn Tore Larsen, and Ms. Dineo Mathlako, the Deputy High Commissioner of South Africa to the UK. 

“We’re thrilled with the amazing response to our new London to Cape Town route. A fully sold-out inaugural flight shows just how much people want affordable, direct, long-haul travel. Cape Town is a beautiful destination, and we’re excited to offer our passengers the chance to visit while enjoying great value and comfort,” said Bjørn Tore Larsen, CEO and Founder of Norse Atlantic Airways.

"The arrival of Norse Atlantic Airways at Airports Company South Africa’s Cape Town International Airport reflects our shared vision of strengthening global connectivity and enhancing the passenger experience. We look forward to a fruitful partnership with Norse, which will certainly bring new opportunities for tourism, business, and cultural ties through increased connectivity between Cape Town and London. As we celebrate this inaugural flight, we are excited about the future and the continued expansion of our international air service offerings.", said Mark Maclean Regional General Manager, Airports Company South Africa, Cape Town International Airport.

“Congratulations to Norse Atlantic Airways on their inaugural flight from Gatwick to Cape Town. It’s fantastic to see another route opening between the UK and South Africa. Every year over 400,000 British tourists come to this amazing country and these vital people-to-people links also sustain our most important trade and economic partnership in Africa”, said British High Commissioner to the Republic of South Africa, His Excellency Mr. Antony Phillipson.

Norse’s new service to Cape Town will face competition from established airlines like Virgin Atlantic and British Airways, both of which already offer daily flights on the London-Cape Town route.

This isn’t Norse’s first foray into African operations. Norse Atlantic Airways expanded its African reach through a partnership with Air Peace, Nigeria's largest private airline. Announced on February 26, 2024, the two-month ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance) charter partnership launched in April, facilitating flights between London and Lagos, Nigeria. Norse operated the London-Lagos route four times per week using Air Peace’s slots at London Gatwick, deploying three of its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners under the agreement. This contract was not renewed and ended amicably on May 30.

Norse Atlantic Airways was founded in March 2021 by CEO and major shareholder Bjørn Tore Larsen. Norse Atlantic Airways offers flights to destinations including New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Miami, Orlando, Bangkok, Cape Town, Oslo, Athens, London, Berlin, Rome, and Paris. The airline's first flight took off from Oslo to New York on June 14, 2022.