Widerøe is one of the oldest operating airlines in Norway, with a rich and storied history. Founded in 1934, the airline has seen its fair share of successes, challenges, and changes, but it is still going strong today. Let's take a look at the history of Widerøe, the airline's fleet, and some of the most important milestones in its 86-year journey.
The beginnings of Widerøe can be traced back to 1934 when the aviation pioneer Carl Gustav Widerøe decided to start an air transport company. He opened the first airfield in Norway in 1935, and the first flight took place on April 8, 1936, from Oslo to Notodden. From the very beginning, Widerøe had a focus on serving rural communities in Norway, something which it still does today.
In the decades that followed, Widerøe continued to expand its operations and its fleet. The airline initially operated just one type of aircraft, the de Havilland Dragon Rapide, but soon added other planes such as the Douglas DC-3 and the Convair CV-340. By the 1960s, the airline had transitioned to jet aircraft, with the first jet, the Fokker F-27, entering service in 1965. In the following years, the fleet was updated with more modern aircraft such as the Fokker 50, the Fokker 100, and the Saab 2000.
Throughout its history, Widerøe has seen many important milestones. Here are just a few of the most significant ones.
The first milestone was the decision in 1938 to start flying to Svalbard, an archipelago located in the Arctic Ocean. This was a risky and daring venture at the time, and it made Widerøe the first airline in the world to fly to the Arctic Circle.
Another milestone came in 1989 when the airline became the first in Norway to operate the ATR-42, a turboprop airliner. This allowed Widerøe to expand its operations and to offer more reliable service to the remote areas of Norway.
In the 1990s, Widerøe became the first airline in Norway to introduce the Boeing 737. This gave the airline the ability to fly to more distant destinations, such as London and Madrid.
In 2009, Widerøe became the first airline in Norway to introduce the Bombardier Q400, a modern turboprop aircraft. The Q400 allowed Widerøe to increase its capacity and to offer more flights to its customers.
In 2017, Widerøe became the first airline in Norway to receive the Embraer E-jet, a modern jet airliner. This allowed the airline to expand its operations and to offer flights to more distant destinations.
While Widerøe has seen many successes over the years, there have also been some challenges. In 1990, the airline was involved in an incident in which a Widerøe Fokker 50 crashed in the city of Bodø. All 39 passengers and crew members on board were killed, and the cause of the crash was later determined to be pilot error. In 1998, the airline was also the subject of a federal investigation for alleged safety violations. However, the airline was cleared of any wrongdoing and no charges were filed.
Today, Widerøe remains one of the most important airlines in Norway, providing service to a variety of destinations across the country. With an impressive fleet of modern aircraft and a long history of serving rural communities, Widerøe is still going strong after 86 years.
Comments