newstodate.aero

Dec 14, 2021 (newstodate): No freighter or all-cargo flights are today operating at Norway's Harstad-Narvik Airport, Evenes - but new developments are underway..
   Media report that flight operations to lift Norwegian seafood from Evenes Airport will be resumed early in 2022, aiming at both Asian and North American destinations.
   -We are indeed in close talks with certain airlines and expect to see all-cargo traffic again from late January or early February 2022, confirms Stig Winther, Perishable Center Nord CEO.
   Starting from December 14, 2020, Qatar Airways has been operating cargo flights from Evenes in northern Norway to Doha lifting seafood exports to Asia, followed from February 3, 2021, by Virgin Atlantic with two weekly flights from Evenes to London Heathrow using Boeing 787-9 aircraft to lift seafood belly cargo into Virgin's route network in London with onward transfer to the US market, later changed to direct US-bound flights from Evenes.
   However, Qatar Airways suspended operations at Evenes from November 2022, and Virgin Atlantic pulled out from summer 2021.
   Mr Winther refrains from commenting on whether the planned resumed operations will be provided by either, or both, of these carriers - or by other operators.
   -The crucial factor remains a firm commitment by the exporters and forwarders in the seafood exports; and I assume that the suspension of services after a most successful period of flights have convinced the market of the supremacy of air cargo services directly out of an airport close to the production sites, rather than having to truck shipments south into Oslo Airport, says Mr Winther.
   -One obstacle has to be removed, though: the characteristics of flights by large aircraft into and out of Evenes Airport requires a special training and certification of cockpit crews, the scarcity of which was initially behind the retreat by Qatar Airways from the Evenes-operation. This is being improved, though.
   -Now, hopes are to see four weekly freighter and all-cargo services at Evenes Airport soon into 2022, says Mr Winther.