Norwegian - 2016-02-25 10:14 GMT - Already 7 members on board. - Reynaert: “Growing interest and support for A4E”. Norwegian, Europe’s third largest low-cost carrier, has agreed to join Airlines for Europe (A4E) - Europe’s new airline association. A4E was launched last month and Norwegian will now become its latest member, working hand in hand with founding members Air France KLM, easyJet, International Airlines Group, Lufthansa Group and Ryanair. “Airlines for Europe is open for business and ready to represent the interests of all European airlines. We will grow our member base over the next months, uniting more European airlines to take forward changes that will increase our competitiveness and result in lower fares and more choice for passengers. I am thrilled to welcome Norwegian and Finnair to A4E”, said Thomas Reynaert, A4E’s Managing Director. Norwegian CEO Bjorn Kjos said: “Norwegian has always believed in healthy competition among airlines to create more choice and lower fares for passengers. But we also firmly believe in an industry where low-cost and network carriers can unite to tackle the many issues we all face together. We are delighted to join Airlines for Europe to add our voice to the important debate about the huge challenges and opportunities our industry faces in the future.” Thomas Reynaert reemphasised A4E welcoming the European Commission’s Aviation Strategy for a stronger and more competitive European aviation industry but called on the EC to address large scale airport monopolies by removing high charges, taxation and inefficiencies within the aviation supply chain. About A4E: Airlines for Europe (A4E) is Europe’s new and largest airline association, based in Brussels. Launched in January 2016, the association was established by Europe’s five largest airline groups – Air France KLM, easyJet, International Airlines Group, Lufthansa Group and Ryanair – and plans to grow further after just adding Norwegian and Finnair. With more than 500 million passengers on board, the A4E members account for more than half of the continent’s passenger journeys, operating more than 2,300 airplanes and generating EUR 93 billion in turnover each year. Norwegian Air Shuttle ASA, commercially branded “Norwegian”, is a low-cost airline listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange. Norwegian is the world's seventh largest low-cost airline. The company reported its highest ever passenger figures in a single year with almost 26 million passengers in 2015. Norwegian has a route portfolio that stretches across Europe into North Africa and the Middle East, as well as long-haul flights to the US and Southeast Asia. The company has over 400 routes to more than 130 destinations and employs approximately 5,500 people. The company has several hundred undelivered aircraft on firm order. Norwegian was founded in 1993 and its headquarter is in Fornebu, Norway. Norwegian offers better leg room than most competitors, in-flight WiFi on short haul, a fleet of around 100 aircraft with an average age of only four years; one of the youngest fleets in the world. In 2013, 2014 and 2015, Norwegian was voted Europe’s best low-cost carrier of the year by the renowned SkyTrax World Airline Awards. Norwegian was also the first airline to be awarded the World's best low-cost long-haul airline in 2015 by SkyTrax. In 2014, Norwegian also won three prizes at the prestigious Passenger Choice Awards for Best Airline in Europe, Best Inflight Connectivity & Communications and Best Single Achievement in Passenger Experience for its moving map on the 787 Dreamliners. In addition, Norwegian was awarded Europe's best low-cost airline by AirlineRatings.com for the second year running.
