newstodate.aero
Jan 06, 2015 (newstodate): Little seems to be left of lofty plans for start of new international air services to and from Norway by Viking International Airlines.
Behind the project is US-based Global First Response Inc, owned by US national John Kunkle that has, however, been found in deep troubles from deteriorating credit ratings and bankruptcies.
One key element in the business plan behind the passenger and cargo airline was the acquisition of the majority stake in a new company, Northcape Turnaroundport AS set up to provide handling of cruise ships in the country's northernmost region.
This venture would generate a need for air transportation at Lakselv, Norway, of rotating crews and passengers as well as providing uplift capacity for salmon exports.
-I would not like to go into any details, but suffice it to say that I am not convinced that the negotiations with Global First Response will end successfully, and we are actually now pursuing alternatives to secure the plans for the turnaround harbor service, says Per Amundsen, lawyer and Chairman of the Board of Northcape Turnaroundport.
In addition to its engagement in the harbor services project, the US group also ambitiously intended to launch passenger services from Oslo to the USA and Asia, engage in the Norwegian seafood export and build an own cargo terminal for handling of seafood at Lakselv Banak Airport.
So far, the only concrete result of the endeavors remains the establishing of a low-key company in Finland where the planned fleet of Boeing 747 aircraft would be registered to quality as EU operations.
Behind the project is US-based Global First Response Inc, owned by US national John Kunkle that has, however, been found in deep troubles from deteriorating credit ratings and bankruptcies.
One key element in the business plan behind the passenger and cargo airline was the acquisition of the majority stake in a new company, Northcape Turnaroundport AS set up to provide handling of cruise ships in the country's northernmost region.
This venture would generate a need for air transportation at Lakselv, Norway, of rotating crews and passengers as well as providing uplift capacity for salmon exports.
-I would not like to go into any details, but suffice it to say that I am not convinced that the negotiations with Global First Response will end successfully, and we are actually now pursuing alternatives to secure the plans for the turnaround harbor service, says Per Amundsen, lawyer and Chairman of the Board of Northcape Turnaroundport.
In addition to its engagement in the harbor services project, the US group also ambitiously intended to launch passenger services from Oslo to the USA and Asia, engage in the Norwegian seafood export and build an own cargo terminal for handling of seafood at Lakselv Banak Airport.
So far, the only concrete result of the endeavors remains the establishing of a low-key company in Finland where the planned fleet of Boeing 747 aircraft would be registered to quality as EU operations.