26 May 2021

Norwegian Air exits restructuring process

Parked Boeing 737-800 aircrafts belonging to budget carrier Norwegian Air are pictured at Stockholm Arlanda Airport, in this March 6, 2015 file picture. — Reuters pic
Parked Boeing 737-800 aircrafts belonging to budget carrier Norwegian Air are pictured at Stockholm Arlanda Airport, in this March 6, 2015 file picture. — Reuters pic

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OSLO, May 26 — Norwegian Air emerged from six months of bankruptcy protection today with a smaller fleet and its debt almost wiped out, the budget carrier said, but also facing stronger competition and a lingering uncertainty wrought by the pandemic.

The budget airline said on Friday it had raised 6 billion Norwegian crowns (RM2.9 billion) in fresh capital, as planned, more than enough to meet the minimum requirement set by bankruptcy courts in Dublin and Oslo.

The Covid-19 pandemic threw Norwegian, an already indebted carrier, into a crisis in early 2020, forcing it eventually to terminate large parts of its operations, including its transatlantic network.

The company now has 51 aircraft, down from a pre-pandemic 156, while its debt amounts to between 16 billion and 18 billion Norwegian crowns, down from more than 80 billion, it said.

“All 51 aircraft will be operated based on ‘Power by the Hour’ agreements through (the first quarter of) 2022 which significantly increase the company’s flexibility and limit lease payments in the event of a prolonged period with challenging markets due to the Covid-19 pandemic,” the company said. — Reuters




Source: Malay Mail

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