newstodate.aero
Aug 03, 2010 (newstodate): The end is in sight for plans to launch a new Norwegian regional carrier, North Express, to serve thin routes in the northernmost part of the country.
But is there still a hope?
-We are admittedly NOK 4.8 million short of investor commitments despite many positive and constructive efforts to relieve the situation, says Gota Aspen, North Express spokesman, himself a Boeing 737 pilot and CAA operations inspector.
-We are, however, still in possession of the ATR 42-500 aircraft dedicated to the project, and cockpit and cabin crews are ready as well. But the aircraft will be reserved only till the end of this week, so unless a last-minute solution is found to fund the project it is really over.
-The market for air transportation in the northern parts of Norway is today monopolized by Wideroe operating on a five-year concession to be re-negotiated next spring, with a new concession period to start from the beginning of 2012. This means that we would have 18 months to establish ourselves in a position to take over the operations, but only half a year before the coming tender is closed. The time-frame is therefore very narrow - and if we lose this one, the next chance is more than five years away.
-We would challenge the existing operator with fares much below the current exorbitant level that is a drain on private and public spending. So, seen from this angle it is really rather strange that the issue of a mere 4.8 mio should effectively abort efforts to bring about a marked improvement in the supply of air transportation in the northern region where several communes and many private enterprises as well as members of the public have come out strongly in favor of North Express, says Mr Aspen.
But is there still a hope?
-We are admittedly NOK 4.8 million short of investor commitments despite many positive and constructive efforts to relieve the situation, says Gota Aspen, North Express spokesman, himself a Boeing 737 pilot and CAA operations inspector.
-We are, however, still in possession of the ATR 42-500 aircraft dedicated to the project, and cockpit and cabin crews are ready as well. But the aircraft will be reserved only till the end of this week, so unless a last-minute solution is found to fund the project it is really over.
-The market for air transportation in the northern parts of Norway is today monopolized by Wideroe operating on a five-year concession to be re-negotiated next spring, with a new concession period to start from the beginning of 2012. This means that we would have 18 months to establish ourselves in a position to take over the operations, but only half a year before the coming tender is closed. The time-frame is therefore very narrow - and if we lose this one, the next chance is more than five years away.
-We would challenge the existing operator with fares much below the current exorbitant level that is a drain on private and public spending. So, seen from this angle it is really rather strange that the issue of a mere 4.8 mio should effectively abort efforts to bring about a marked improvement in the supply of air transportation in the northern region where several communes and many private enterprises as well as members of the public have come out strongly in favor of North Express, says Mr Aspen.