Today, during a meeting with Minister of Economics Viktors Valainis and the Director of the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA) Ieva Jāgere, Norse Atlantic Airways founder, and CEO Bjørn Tore Larsen announced the company's expansion plans in Latvia, including a long-term goal to launch transatlantic flights from Riga to the United States.
"The establishment of Norse Atlantic Airways' operations center highlights Latvia's significance as a regional aviation hub and its strong growth potential. Our goal is to take the next step by expanding the airport’s route network to more distant destinations. Flights between Latvia and the U.S. will be a key factor in strengthening Latvia's bilateral economic relations with the United States," said Minister Valainis.
The first phase of Norse Atlantic Airways' entry into Latvia has been completed, with the initial 30 employees already working at the new international business center. Norse Atlantic Airways is establishing an Operations Control Center (OCC) in Latvia, marking a significant milestone for the country’s aviation industry. This move highlights Latvia’s growing importance as a strategic location for aviation operations. OCC will serve as Norse operational hub, ensuring 24/7 flight planning, crew scheduling, and real-time communication with pilots, dispatchers, and other service teams to manage changes and ensure safe and efficient operations. Norse Atlantic Airways in Latvia’s international business center plans to create 80 new jobs. The Riga office will complement the airline's existing offices in Norway, the United Kingdom, France and the United States.
Bjørn Tore Larsen: “With our evolved business strategy adding charter and ACMI flying to our services, we have chosen Latvia as a center of excellence for such operations. Throughout our growth journey in Latvia, we have been highly impressed by the skilled and talented professionals who have joined our team, further solidifying our confidence in this decision. Additionally, we have had constructive and productive discussions with Latvian authorities at the highest levels, and we are grateful for their unwavering support.”
The Riga-New York flight is part of the airline's long-term vision. However, several prerequisites must be met before it becomes a reality, including partnerships within Latvia and the Baltic countries.
"Norse Atlantic Airways is one of our success stories. The company has a long-term development plan in Latvia, strengthening the presence of the aviation industry in our country. According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), every job created in the aviation sector generates two to four additional jobs in related industries," emphasized Ieva Jāgere, Director of LIAA.
About Norse Atlantic Airways
Norse Atlantic Airways specializes in low-cost long-haul flights, connecting Europe (Athens, Berlin, Oslo, Paris, Rome) with the United States (Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Orlando) and also operates charter flights. The company was founded in March 2021 by CEO and main shareholder Bjørn Tore Larsen.
The airline's fleet consists of 15 modern Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, serving destinations including New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Miami, Orlando, Bangkok, Cape Town, Oslo, Athens, London, Berlin, Rome, and Paris. Norse Atlantic Airways operated its first flight from Oslo to New York on June 14, 2022.
Norwegian Investments in Latvia
Norway is the eighth-largest foreign investor in Latvia, with over 240 Norwegian companies currently operating in the country. According to a survey conducted by LIAA among the 10 largest Norwegian capital companies in Latvia, eight have expressed interest in expanding their operations in Latvia over the next three years.
An additional boost for the aviation industry in Latvia comes from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which has granted Latvia the authorization for locally registered aircraft operators to conduct direct commercial passenger and cargo flights between Latvia and the U.S.
This announcement signals a significant step forward for Latvia's aviation sector, strengthening international connectivity and economic ties with key global markets.
Public Relations Division
Ministry of Economics
Republic of Latvia
