The United States Department of Transportation has granted permission for the operation of flights between Norway and the European Union to the US. 

Permission follows approval by authorities in Norway in December and means Norse can start operations in spring, with the first flights from Oslo. 

However, approval must be given from US and UK authorities before Norse can begin operating from the UK. Norse was granted slots at Stansted late last year.

“We are thrilled by the Department of Transportation’s approval of our affordable transatlantic flights,” said Norse chief executive and founder Bjorn Tore Larsen.  

In May, Norse reached agreement with the US Association of Flight Attendants.  

“We look forward to start recruiting our new colleagues in the US,” Larsen said. 

He added: “We believe that transatlantic travel will resume with full force once the pandemic is behind us. People will want to explore new destinations, visit friends and family and travel for business.”