Norse Atlantic Airways Celebrates Sold-Out Inaugural Flight from London Gatwick to Cape Town

Norse Atlantic Airways proudly marks a major milestone with the successful launch of its direct service between London Gatwick and Cape Town. The inaugural flight departed on Monday, October 28th, arriving in Cape Town on Tuesday, October 29th, with both Premium and Economy cabins fully booked, showing the high demand for this highly anticipated route.

As Norse Atlantic Airways continues its global expansion the airline continues to connect key international destinations with affordable and comfortable travel options. The new route to Cape Town operates up to three times a week, making it easy for travelers to experience the city’s vibrant culture, stunning landscapes, and famous attractions. Whether it’s exploring Table Mountain, enjoying the local wine routes, or diving into the rich history, Norse Atlantic offers a perfect way to reach this popular destination.

With fares starting from just £219 return, including taxes, Norse Atlantic Airways is committed to offering budget-friendly long-haul flights without compromising on comfort or service. The airline aims to provide affordable, high-quality flights for both leisure and business travelers.

To mark the inaugural departure at London Gatwick, speeches were given by Stephanie Wear, Vice President of Aviation Development, CEO and Founder Norse Atantic Airways Bjørn Tore Larsen and Ms. Dineo Mathlako, the Deputy High Commissioner of South Africa to the UK, on the importance of this new route, celebrating its significant role in connecting the strong cultural and economic ties between the UK and South Africa.

Passengers on the inaugural flight enjoyed the airline’s modern Boeing 787 Dreamliner, designed to make travel more comfortable. Featuring spacious seating, an advanced air system, and a quieter cabin, travelers could relax and arrive feeling refreshed.

The flight's arrival was celebrated with a water salute and live Marimba band, along with warm support from dignitaries and VIPs from the UK, South Africa, and Norway. Speeches were given by:

• Bjørn Tore Larsen, CEO and Founder of Norse Atlantic Airways
• His Excellency Antony Phillipson, British High Commissioner to the Republic of South Africa
• Gjermund Sæther, Norwegian Ambassador to South Africa
• MEC Ivan Meyer, Western Cape Provincial Minister for Economic Opportunities, Western Cape Government
• Alderman James Vos, Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth, City of Cape Town
• Mark Maclean, Regional General Manager, Airports Company South Africa, Cape Town International Airport
• Paul Van den Brink, Aviation Liaison, Cape Town Air Access
• Bronwen Auret, Chief Quality Assurance Officer, South African Tourism

“We’re thrilled with the amazing response to our new London to Cape Town route. A fully sold-out inaugural flight shows just how much people want affordable, direct long-haul travel. Cape Town is a beautiful destination, and we’re excited to offer our passengers the chance to visit while enjoying great value and comfort,” said Bjørn Tore Larsen, CEO and Founder of Norse Atlantic Airways.

"The arrival of Norse Atlantic Airways at Airports Company South Africa’s Cape Town International Airport reflects our shared vision of strengthening global connectivity and enhancing the passenger experience. We look forward to a fruitful partnership with Norse, which will certainly bring new opportunities for tourism, business, and cultural ties through increased connectivity between Cape Town and London. As we celebrate this inaugural flight, we are excited about the future and the continued expansion of our international air service offerings.", said Mark Maclean Regional General Manager, Airports Company South Africa, Cape Town International Airport.

“Congratulations to Norse Atlantic Airways on their inaugural flight from Gatwick to Cape Town It’s fantastic to see another route opening between the UK and South Africa. Every year over 400,000 British tourists come to this amazing country and these vital people to people links also sustain our most important trade and economic partnership in Africa”, said British High Commissioner to the Republic of South Africa, His Excellency Mr. Antony Phillipson.

Norse Atlantic exclusively flies modern Boeing 787 Dreamliners, designed for a relaxed and comfortable journey. Every seat includes a personal, state-of-the-art entertainment system, ensuring an enjoyable flight experience.

Travelers can choose between two cabin options: Economy and Norse Premium. Our Premium cabin leads the industry with a 43” seat pitch and 12” recline, a spacious, restful experience from takeoff to landing.

Fares are flexible to meet different needs, with Light, Classic, and Flextra options. Light fares offer great value, while Flextra fares provide maximum baggage allowance, two meal services, and added ticket flexibility.

Economy Light bookings now also include a 10kg carry-on bag, along with a personal item, giving even more value to customers who book directly on flynorse.com (note: different rules may apply for third-party bookings).

Christina Carare
Communications Manager
media@flynorse.com

Norse Atlantic Airways is an airline committed to offering affordable fares on direct, long-haul flights worldwide, along with specialized Charter and ACMI services for tailored travel needs. Founded by CEO and major shareholder Bjørn Tore Larsen in March 2021, Norse operates a modern fleet of 15 fuel-efficient Boeing 787 Dreamliners, serving a growing network of destinations across North America, Europe, Africa, and Asia. Passengers can fly with Norse to cities like New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Miami, Orlando, Bangkok, Cape Town, Oslo, Athens, London, Berlin, Rome, and Paris. Norse's Charter and ACMI services provide partners with flexible,reliable solutions to meet unique travel demands. The company's first flight took off from Oslo to New York on June 14, 2022.