Norse, which has axed some of its US routes from Gatwick, will fly for Nigeria’s Air Peace from April. 

The deal, which uses Air Peace’s Gatwick slots, will see Norse fly four times a week for an initial two months “with the potential for a longer-term agreement”.

Air Peace chief executive Allen Onyema said: “Air Peace is delighted to have signed this partnership deal with Norse Atlantic Airways for the commencement of our London service.”

Norse said it and Air Peace “will continue to discuss potential longer-term partnerships”.

Meanwhile, authorities in Canada have approved an application for Norse to operate scheduled services from the UK. No date for commencement is given, but approval is immediate, which could see flights begin this summer.

However, Norse already has four of its 15 Boeing 787s on lease agreements and has said it does not plan to operate all of them itself until next year.