Norwegian CEO Bjorn Kjos with Irish Aviation Authority Chief Executive Eamonn Brennan (left) and Irish Minister for Transport Shane Ross (right)
Norwegian CEO Bjorn Kjos with Irish Aviation Authority Chief Executive Eamonn Brennan (left) and Irish Minister for Transport Shane Ross (right)

Press release -

​Norwegian CEO receives ‘Outstanding Contribution to Aviation’ accolade from the Irish aviation industry

  • Bjorn Kjos dedicates award at Ireland's Aviation Gala Ball to “the tremendous support Norwegian have received across Ireland”

Norwegian CEO Bjorn Kjos last night received an ‘Outstanding Contribution to Aviation’ award from the Irish aviation industry, calling the accolade a “true honour” and dedicating it to the huge support Norwegian has received across Ireland in recent years.

Kjos co-founded Norwegian in 1993 with the airline rapidly growing from a domestic carrier in Norway into Europe’s third-largest low cost carrier today. Norwegian now flies more than 30 million passengers each year to over 150 global destinations.

To support Norwegian’s European and global growth, an Irish subsidiary Norwegian Air International (NAI) was established in 2013 with a headquarters in Dublin – NAI now has nearly 2,100 pilots and crew, with 57 Irish-registered aircraft operating over 260 flights each day from 11 European bases.

Earlier this year it was announced that NAI will also operate 19 new weekly transatlantic flights from Cork, Shannon and Dublin to the US east coast this summer. As well as delivering new routes and significant economic benefits on both sides of the Atlantic, Norwegian is also establishing two new pilot and crew bases in the US to serve the routes, creating several hundred jobs.

The launch of new transatlantic flights from Ireland followed Norwegian’s long-running application for a Foreign Carrier Permit with the US authorities. In receiving the ‘Outstanding Contribution to Aviation’accolade last night, CEO Bjorn Kjos praised the significant and crucial support of the Irish community in securing the much needed permit.

Speaking at Ireland's Aviation Gala Ball, organised by the Irish Aviation Authorityin Dublin last night Norwegian CEO Bjorn Kjos said:

“This award is a tremendous honour but there are many people that helped me and Norwegian to get here today. I want to thank the aviation industry and particularly the Irish community for their huge support throughout Norwegian’s growth.

“Securing a US permit simply wouldn’t have been possible without the huge support we received across Ireland. In particular I want to thank the Irish Government, including An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, the current Minister of Transport, Shane Ross and two of his former predecessors, and a very special thank you to Eamonn Brennan from the IAA for all his assistance. Thanks also to the many airports, airlines and business groups who helped push this issue continuously.

“Receiving our US permit was a victory for passengers above all, allowing us to offer new routes and more choice as well as hundreds of new jobs in Europe and the US. New routes, greater competition and more jobs – exactly what we promised and exactly what the Open Skies agreement is for.

“Thank you again for this accolade – it is a true honour but I wouldn’t be here without your help so I would like to dedicate it to everyone in Ireland that has supported us over the last few years.”

Earlier on Friday, Norwegian also announced Tom Crean as its first ever Irish tail fin hero with the explorer’s portrait set to appear on new 737MAX aircraft that will serve new transatlantic routes from Cork, Shannon and Dublin this summer. In collecting the IAA award, Bjorn Kjos also paid tribute to Tom Crean saying his achievements “are an inspiration to the whole industry never to give up in the face of adversity”.

In receiving the ‘Outstanding Contribution to Aviation’, Bjorn Kjos follows previous recipients of the award including IAG CEO Willie Walsh and CEO of Qantas Alan Joyce.

Norwegian is Europe’s third largest low-cost carrier, carrying 30 million yearly passengers to more than 140 global destinations. Norwegian has been voted the Best Low-Cost Long-Haul Airline for two consecutive years at the renowned SkyTrax Awards, and the Europe’s Best Low-Cost Airline for four consecutive years.

- Ends –

Notes to Editors:

  • Images attached of Bjorn Kjos receiving the ‘Outstanding Contribution to Aviation’ award

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Bjorn Kjos receives 'Outstanding Contribution to Aviation' award from Irish aviation industry
  • Bjorn Kjos receives 'Outstanding Contribution to Aviation' award from Irish aviation industry
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Bjorn Kjos receives 'Outstanding Contribution to Aviation' award from Irish aviation industry
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Bjorn Kjos thanks the Irish aviation industry for his 'Outstanding Contribution to Aviation' award
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The Norwegian group is a leading Nordic aviation company, headquartered at Fornebu outside Oslo, Norway. The company has over 8,200 employees and owns two of the prominent airlines in the Nordics: Norwegian Air Shuttle and Widerøe’s Flyveselskap. Widerøe was acquired by Norwegian in 2024, aiming to facilitate seamless air travel across the two airline’s networks.

Norwegian Air Shuttle, the largest Norwegian airline with around 4,700 employees, operates an extensive route network connecting Nordic countries to key European destinations. In 2023, Norwegian carried over 20 million passengers and maintained a fleet of 87 Boeing 737-800 and 737 MAX 8 aircraft.

Widerøe’s Flyveselskap, Norway’s oldest airline, is Scandinavia’s largest regional carrier. The airline has more than 3,500 employees. Mainly operating the short-runway airports in rural Norway, Widerøe operates several state contract routes (PSO routes) in addition to its own commercial network. In 2023, the airline had 3.3 million passengers and a fleet of 48 aircraft, including 45 Bombardier Dash 8’s and three Embraer E190-E2's. Widerøe Ground Handling provides ground handling services at 41 Norwegian airports.

The Norwegian group has sustainability as a key priority and has committed to significantly reducing carbon emissions from its operations. Among numerous initiatives, the most noteworthy is the investment in production and use of fossil-free aviation fuel (SAF). Norwegian strives to become the sustainable choice for its passengers, actively contributing to the transformation of the aviation industry.

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