Nordic Air
Encyclopedia
Nordic Air A/S was a Norwegian
cargo airline
based at Sandefjord Airport, Torp. It operated from 1970 to 1973 with a Douglas DC-4
, later replaced with two Lockheed L-188 Electra
. The airline was not allowed to fly scheduled routes, and relied on chater flights. The most common transport was fish, from Northern Norway, Iceland
and the Faroe Islands
. The company was bought and merged into Fred Olsen Air Transport
in 1973, after Nordic Air had failed to receive permission for its Nordic Express scheduled flights.
. They had interests in Vestfold Industrier, and wanted to expanded in to air cargo. They business idea was to transport fresh fish from Northern Norway to Southern Norway and onwards to Europe. Thore Virik was hired as chief pilot. He and Chief Salesman Jan Larsen also had an ownership in Nordic Air. The company built a hangar at Sandefjord Airport, Torp and bought a Douglas DC-4 Skymaster, with registration LN-MOB and named Moby. The company applied for a concession
to start regular flights, but were denied this by the Norwegian Ministry of Transport and Communications
. Instead, they were forced to only make ad-hoc flights. The first years, the airline mainly flew fish from Northern Norway as well as from Iceland and the Faroe Islands. In addition to fish, cargo was horses, cattle and other animals.
In 1972, the airline replaced its Skymaster with a Lockheed L-188 Electra. The company attempted again to apply for concession, based on a concept that would be called Nordic Express. This was rejected; the ministry stated that the cargo services provided by Scandinavian Airlines System
, Braathens SAFE
and Widerøe
on their passenger planes was sufficient for the domestic market. In 1973, the airline was sold to Fred Olsen Air Transport, which was based at Oslo Airport, Fornebu
. Nordic Air was the only cargo airline to operate a base at Sandefjord Airport, Torp.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
cargo airline
Cargo airline
Cargo airlines are airlines dedicated to the transport of cargo. Some cargo airlines are divisions or subsidiaries of larger passenger airlines.-Logistics:...
based at Sandefjord Airport, Torp. It operated from 1970 to 1973 with a Douglas DC-4
Douglas DC-4
The Douglas DC-4 is a four-engined propeller-driven airliner developed by the Douglas Aircraft Company. It served during World War II, in the Berlin Airlift and into the 1960s in a military role...
, later replaced with two Lockheed L-188 Electra
Lockheed L-188 Electra
The Lockheed Model 188 Electra is an American turboprop airliner built by Lockheed. First flying in 1957, it was the first large turboprop airliner produced in the United States. Initial sales were good, but after two fatal crashes which prompted an expensive modification program to fix a design...
. The airline was not allowed to fly scheduled routes, and relied on chater flights. The most common transport was fish, from Northern Norway, Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
and the Faroe Islands
Faroe Islands
The Faroe Islands are an island group situated between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, approximately halfway between Scotland and Iceland. The Faroe Islands are a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, along with Denmark proper and Greenland...
. The company was bought and merged into Fred Olsen Air Transport
Fred Olsen Air Transport
Fred Olsen Air Transport was based in Norway and operated between 1946 and 1997.-Company history:The airline was set up in June 1946 as a subsidiary of Fred. Olsen & Co.. Initially, freight and passenger charter flights were conducted using Douglas DC-3, frequently carrying ships crews...
in 1973, after Nordic Air had failed to receive permission for its Nordic Express scheduled flights.
History
The airline was started by the brothers Arne and Einar Karlsen from StokkeStokke
Stokke is a municipality in Vestfold county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Stokke.-Background:The municipality of Stokke was established on 1 January 1838...
. They had interests in Vestfold Industrier, and wanted to expanded in to air cargo. They business idea was to transport fresh fish from Northern Norway to Southern Norway and onwards to Europe. Thore Virik was hired as chief pilot. He and Chief Salesman Jan Larsen also had an ownership in Nordic Air. The company built a hangar at Sandefjord Airport, Torp and bought a Douglas DC-4 Skymaster, with registration LN-MOB and named Moby. The company applied for a concession
Concession (contract)
A concession is a business operated under a contract or license associated with a degree of exclusivity in business within a certain geographical area. For example, sports arenas or public parks may have concession stands. Many department stores contain numerous concessions operated by other...
to start regular flights, but were denied this by the Norwegian Ministry of Transport and Communications
Norwegian Ministry of Transport and Communications
The Royal Norwegian Ministry of Transportation and Communications is a Norwegian ministry established in 1946, and is responsible for transportation and communication infrastructure in Norway. It is led by Magnhild Meltveit Kleppa...
. Instead, they were forced to only make ad-hoc flights. The first years, the airline mainly flew fish from Northern Norway as well as from Iceland and the Faroe Islands. In addition to fish, cargo was horses, cattle and other animals.
In 1972, the airline replaced its Skymaster with a Lockheed L-188 Electra. The company attempted again to apply for concession, based on a concept that would be called Nordic Express. This was rejected; the ministry stated that the cargo services provided by Scandinavian Airlines System
Scandinavian Airlines System
Scandinavian Airlines or SAS, previously Scandinavian Airlines System, is the flag carrier of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, and the largest airline in Scandinavia....
, Braathens SAFE
Braathens
Braathens ASA, until 1997 Braathens South American & Far East Airtransport A/S and trading as Braathens SAFE, is a former Norwegian airline that operated from 1946 until it merged with Scandinavian Airlines Norway to become SAS Braathens in 2004. The airline was based in Oslo, first at Fornebu,...
and Widerøe
Widerøe
Widerøe's Flyveselskap AS, trading as Widerøe, is a regional airline in Norway and part of the SAS Group. It operates a fleet of 34 Bombardier Dash 8 aircraft , serving 41 domestic and 6 international destinations...
on their passenger planes was sufficient for the domestic market. In 1973, the airline was sold to Fred Olsen Air Transport, which was based at Oslo Airport, Fornebu
Oslo Airport, Fornebu
Oslo Airport, Fornebu was the main airport serving Oslo and Eastern Norway from 1 June 1939 to 7 October 1998. It was then replaced by Oslo Airport, Gardermoen and the area has since been redeveloped. The airport was located at Fornebu in Bærum, from the city center. Fornebu had two runways, one...
. Nordic Air was the only cargo airline to operate a base at Sandefjord Airport, Torp.
Fleet
| Aircraft | Quantity | First in | Last out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Douglas DC-4 Skymaster Douglas DC-4 The Douglas DC-4 is a four-engined propeller-driven airliner developed by the Douglas Aircraft Company. It served during World War II, in the Berlin Airlift and into the 1960s in a military role... |
1 | 1970 | 1972 |
| Lockheed L-188 Electra Lockheed L-188 Electra The Lockheed Model 188 Electra is an American turboprop airliner built by Lockheed. First flying in 1957, it was the first large turboprop airliner produced in the United States. Initial sales were good, but after two fatal crashes which prompted an expensive modification program to fix a design... |
2 | 1972 | 1973 |