Norwegian Air expects to be able to operate flights again in October this year with Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, which are currently being grounded worldwide for safety reasons. The Norwegian price fighter announced this when the quarterly results were published. The company reduced its growth forecasts and sees CEO Bjørn Kjos, one of the company’s founders, taking a step aside.
Norwegian expects to receive six new MAX jets this year. The company is also working on tightening the belt. Kjos continues as the chairman’s advisor. Financial director Geir Karlsen becomes the new CEO on an interim basis.
Norwegian lowered its growth forecast target to 0 to 5 percent where previously it was expected to be 5 to 10 percent. The profit in the second quarter amounted to 73.2 million Norwegian Kroner (7.6 million euros). That is more than three times less than a year earlier, but more than what was taken into account. Keeping 18 MAX aircraft on the ground led to a cost item of around 400 million Norwegian kroner.
