


Today Widerøe is celebrating 90 years and is Norway's oldest aviation group!

On February 19 1934, Viggo Widerøe, together with four enthusiastic friends, founded Widerøe's Flyveselskap AS at Ingierstrand outside Oslo, Norway. In the early years the business mainly focused on taxi, ambulance, training, and aerial photography flights. 

From the 1950s, the activity increased significantly, with seaplane routes in Northern Norway contributing to a increase in revenue along with the technical workshop operation at Fornebu, Oslo. Seaplane activity was replaced by land routes after the Norwegian authorities decided to establish short-field airports in rural areas. In 1968, the first four short-field airports were opened on the route between Bodø and Trondheim. 

In 1970, Widerøe was reorganized as the company aimed to play a leading role in the development of rural flight routes. The business idea of pure route operation was realized by the infusion of new capital, which led to strong and increasing growth. Viggo Widerøe's dream of becoming the lifeline of rural Norway was a realized.

Today Widerøe group is 90 years old and consists of Widerøe's Flyveselskap AS, Widerøe Ground Handling AS, Widerøe Technical Services AS, Widerøe Property AS, and Widerøe Asset AS. Widerøe AS is a subsidiary of the Norwegian Group.

The Widerøe Group has over 3,500 dedicated employees after the subsidiary Widerøe Ground Handling AS (WGH) took over ground handling services for SAS Ground Handling at all airports in Norway (except OSL) in 2016. Today Widerøe Ground Handling AS is providing ground handling services in Norway  to domestic and international airlines from all over the world. 

"With the heart in the clouds and feet on the ground”, we look forward to the next 90 exciting years in the aviation industry. 


Celebrating 90 years of everyday life & adventure!

**Widerøe Ground Handling is providing cargo handling to Qatar Airways at Narvik/Harstad Airport, Evenes**

Tuesday 31 October, Qatar Airways had their first flight from Harstad / Narvik Airport, Evenes. A Boeing 777 full freighter with 100,000 kg of fresh seafood travelling from Evenes and out into the world. Qatar Airways' first flight was handled well and professional by the WGH team at Evenes, and  safely within deadline. Widerøe Ground Handling look forward to welcoming Qatar Airways to Evenes every Tuesday, and we hope this will be a permanent production.  


**Qatar Airways**

Qatar Airways is the flag carrier of Qatar, with headquarter in Doha. Qatar Airways currently flies to more than 160 destinations worldwide, connecting through its Doha hub, Hamad International Airport, voted by Skytrax as the ‘World’s Best Airport’ in 2021 and 2022 consecutively. 





 Qatar Airways Cargo to Narvik/Harstad Airport, Evenes 


**Norwegian awards the ground services contract to Widerøe Ground Handling at 16 airports in Norway**

Widerøe Ground Handling (WGH) has been awarded the contract of delivering ground handling services for Norwegian Air Shuttle at 16 airports in Norway. From April 1st, Norwegian's passengers will be looked after by WGH at Ålesund, Alta, Andøya, Bergen, Bodø, Evenes, Haugesund, Kirkenes, Kristiansand, Kristiansund, Lakselv, Molde, Stavanger, Tromsø, Trondheim og Sandefjord lufthavn

Norwegian Air Shuttle has today announced the winner of the tender process for all Norwegian airports, except Svalbard Airport Longyearbyen. WGH has been awarded all airports where Norwegian operates, apart from Oslo Airport and Bardufoss Airport. The decision is based on commercial terms and confirms that WGH is highly competitive. After the termination of a major contract earlier this fall this decision comes as a great relief for the entire WGH organization 

*"Norwegian has conducted a tender competition on ground handling services for Norway and the rest of Scandinavia where commercial terms and conditions, including sustainability was considered. WGH made the best offer, both commercially as well as on other criteria in the tender. We are now looking forward to expanding our cooperation with WGH, and together we will ensure that our passengers get the best service and a pleasent journey at the airports in Norway,"* says Knut Olav Irgens Høeg, Executive Vice President of Norwegian.

*"We are incredibly happy, proud and relieved to win this contract. The competition within the airline ground handling industry is very tough. The agreement with Norwegian shows that we indeed are competitive*, says Chief Executive Officer of WGH Marius Myhre. 

The contract includes delivery of ground handling services for all Norwegian flights at the following airports: Ålesund, Alta, Andøya, Bergen, Bodø, Evenes, Haugesund, Kirkenes, Kristiansand, Kristiansund, Lakselv, Molde, Stavanger, Tromsø, Trondheim and Torp. The start date is set for April 2024. The agreement also involves the delivery of de-icing services starting September 2024. Both contracts have a duration of five years.  
 
*"This agreement gives us the confidence to continue to invest and seize opportunities that come our way. Though it still means that we are facing a restructuring, it it is reassuring and ensure greater predictability and jobs in the future"*, Myhre concludes.

[https://www.wideroe.no/om-selskapet/media](link)




WGH look forward to the cooperation with Norwegian and will continuously strive to deliver excellent performance in the years to come. 




Norwegian awards the ground services contract to Widerøe Ground Handling at 16 airports in Norway

####  Braathens Regional Airlines selects Widerøe Ground Handling as their partner in Norway

WGH has signed an agreement of the delivery of ground handling services at 17 Norwegian airports, Oslo (OSL), Sandefjiord (TRF), Stavanger (SVG), Haugesund (HAU), Trondheim (TRD), Bergen (BGO), Ålesund (AES), Kristiansand (KRS), Kristiansund (KSU) , Molde (MOL )and Evenes (EVE), Bodø (BOO), Tromsø (TOS), Andenes (ANX), Alta (ALF), Lakselv (LKL) and Kirkenes (KKN).   WGH will provide full handling for the Swedish regional airline Braathens Regional Airways (BRA) with first flight at 1st of July, as well as their charter airline Braathens International Airways operating from 1st of April on behalf of Nordic Leisure Travel Group. 

Kjell Ivar Maudal Commercial Chief Officer commented on the cooperation.  “It is with great excitement we welcome Braathens Regional Airlines as our new partner in Norway, giving us the opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to high quality service for a successful and long-term relationship. We are confident that our highly dedicated and qualified team will exceed Braathens Regional Airlines expectations, and we look forward being their Norwegian partner for the years to come”! 



**About Braathens Regional Airlines**

Braathens Regional Airlines (BRA) is owned by the investment company Braganza (owned by Per G Braathen) and AMF pension. BRA operate mostly domestically in Sweden, with a fleet of 14 ATR aircrafts. 
BRA is the first commercial airline being eco- certified in accordance with ISO 14001 in 2009. 
Braathens International is BRA’s charter airline with a fleet of Airbus 319, operating for charter companies in Scandinavia.


Widerøe Ground Handling is proud to be Braathens Regional Airlines partner in Norway

**WGH is getting us ready for the De/Anti-ice season!**

WGH’s yearly De/Anti-ice seminar was carried out in August by our instructors by Widerøe Ground Handling (WGH) and Widerøe Aviation Academy’s (WAA).  This seminar is Scandinavia's largest and broadest gathering of professionals within the De/Anti-ice segment. Where the training program for coming season was presented, and where all representatives had the opportunity to influence this year’s content.  

When the training program is finalized, a 2-day theoretical and practical recurrent training starts for all 500 employees who perform De/Anti-ice at our 42 stations around the country. 
With the goal of winter readiness within October month.  

WGH is also responsible for the/Anti-ice training for The Norwegian Defense and Airport Authorities at Svalbard Airport.  

Our goal is to be the best supplier of De/Anti -ice services at all stations. 


  Winter readiness - WGH is getting us ready for the De/Anti-ice season!

### CEO comments
We believe that sustainable business practices contribute to positive results in the long term, which in
turn are a prerequisite for investing in environmental and social development. Therefore, we integrate
sustainability goals into our strategic and operational objectives and decision-making.

We invest significant time and financial resources in training and ground equipment to keep our
employees safe and healthy. Health and safety, environmental protection, and the quality of our
services are the result of a long-term commitment.

We have defined several objectives to support our sustainability work towards 2030. At the same time,
2030 is the time horizon for the UN Sustainable Development Goals. We support the sustainable
development goals (SDG) and want to be part of the journey to ensure a more sustainable future. By
acceding to the sustainable development goals, we emphasize that we will do our part in sustainable
development.

Through acquisition of new ground equipment, we address one of our most major impacts on the
environment. A large part of our fleet is already electric, and we always strive to buy electric equipment
when possible. This supports a more sustainable and eco-friendly operation and our sustainability plan
with the target to be fossil free by 2030 at the latest.

Trough extensive training with our experienced employees we do our outmost to secure the correct
amount of chemicals used, typically related to de-icing of aircrafts. Most of all fluids used are collected
and available for a variety of recycling options at our locations. In addition to this we have entered a
partnership with a company who develop a system where de-icing and washing operations are done
with a closed loop. The ambition is to significantly reduce the possibility of discharges into the
surrounding environment further. In this way we address one of our most major impacts on the
environment.

In the last years with significant challenges caused by Covid and geopolitical unrest, I would like to
thank customers, partners, and our staff for being flexible and understanding. I hope we are facing a
future with more normalized level of activity and that we will be able to make further investments in
solutions that supports a sustainable development.

Read more: [Sustainability report](https://www.wgh.no/aboutUs?id=2)

Widerøe Ground Handling AS - Sustainability report 2022

#### Transavia France sign new ground operation contract with Widerøe Ground Handling 

Transavia France have signed an agreement for ground services at Oslo Airport with Widerøe Ground Handling. The operation starts April 20th with four weekly flights between Paris (ORY) and Oslo (OSL). The recent contract is an addition to the existing agreement with Transavia Netherlands on their Amsterdam to Tromsø (TOS) and Harstad/Narvik (EVE) routes.

“We are excited to continue to grow our relationship with Transavia France with the new contract at Oslo Airport. Transavia France is a valuable addition to Wideroe Ground Handling existing portfolio at Oslo Airport, keeping up our ambitions to be the preferred provider of ground operations services in Norway”, says CCO Widerøe Ground Handling Kjell Ivar Maudal. 





#### About Transavia:

Transavia, the low-cost airline of the Air France-KLM Group, operates more than 200 air routes with departures from France (Paris, Nantes, Lyon and Montpellier), the Netherlands (Amsterdam, Rotterdam/The Hague, Eindhoven) and Belgium (Brussels) to Europe and the Mediterranean basin. In 2021, Transavia France has returned to near pre-Covid capacity with a load factor of 80%. 
Transavia France is today the first low-cost airline at Orly and the second in Paris (Beauvais, CDG, Orly). With more than 2,100 employees in France, Transavia has at the center of its commitments the quality of its services, the proximity of its crews and innovation. This stance has led it to being awarded regularly. 
For the third time, Transavia France was elected by 'Customer Service of the Year 2023' in the Collective Passenger Transport (ESCDA) category and obtained, for the sixth consecutive year, the Capital label 'Best Insignia' in the Transport category, awarded by Capital magazine. 
The company also received the Qualiweb 2019 trophy for the quality of its online service in the Tourism and Transport category. Finally, Skyscanner has awarded the air carrier the ‘Traveller Trust Award’ for best experiences in bookings. 

More info at www.transavia.com. 


Transavia France sign new ground operation contract with Widerøe Ground Handling 

Widerøe Ground Handling is pleased to announce that their partnership with KLM and Air France has been extended with the renewal of its ground operations contract at key airports in Norway. 
The contract renewal includes KLM fights at Bergen, Trondheim, Sandefjord, Ålesund, Kristiansand and Tromsø. 

“We are excited to continue our partnership with KLM and Air France throughout Norway. 
We’re looking forward to continue providing our best solutions in support of their operations over the coming years.”


Widerøe Ground Handling continue partnership with KLM and Air France

Norse is a new Norwegian airline that will offer long-haul flights at a good price. 
The company has a fleet of 15 modern and environmentally friendly Boeing 787 
Dreamliner aircrafts. The first flights will go from Oslo to the USA, then gradually 
expanding operations between France and the UK to the USA.

"Widerøe Ground Handling is pleased to extend the collaboration to a permanent 
agreement to take care of Norse and their customers at Oslo Airport. Together 
with Norse, we will focus on digitalization and ensure flexible solutions for the 
travellers," says commercial director of Widerøe Ground Handling Kjell Ivar 
Maudal.

“For us at Norse, it is important to have partners who share our desire to deliver 
good and efficient service to their customers. Enthusiasm and positivity are also 
important. Therefore, it was a natural choice for us to collaborate with Widerøe 
Ground Handling at Oslo Airport. In the same way as us, Widerøe Ground 
Handling wish to think new and sustainably about future aviation”, says director 
of operations Thom-Arne Norheim at Norse Atlantic Airways.

**Technology**

With this new agreement, WGH will invest in new ground equipment that is 
necessary for the loading and unloading operations with containers. WGH focus is
investing in "green" technology. Electrified equipment will be first choice when 
available, to ensure that WGH adapts over time to an environmentally friendly 
ground service where zero emission is the goal.

"WGH is proud and humbled by the opportunity to be Norse's partner at Oslo 
Airport. The culture in both companies is a good match for creating a long-term 
partnership between two Norwegian companies. With Norse as a customer WGH 
continues to grow at Oslo Airport, with the goal of being the preferred supplier of 
ground services at Gardermoen", concludes Maudal.

About WGH

Widerøe Ground Handling (WGH) is the largest ground handler in Norway located at 42 airports. The company 
consists of 1,800 motivated and dedicated employees, as well as a large and growing park of ground 
equipment. The range of services includes but is not limited to; ramp handling, passenger handling, de-icing, 
cargo and unloading handling, freight and security services. WGH has its head office at Oslo Airport.

About Norse Atlantic Airways

Norse Atlantic Airways is a new established airline that will offer comfortable long-haul flights at a good price, 
primarily between Europe and the USA. The company was founded by CEO and principal owner Bjørn Tore 
Larsen in March 2021. Norse has a fleet of 15 modern, fuel-efficient and more environmentally friendly Boeing 
787 Dreamliner aircraft that will serve destinations such as New York, Florida, Paris, London and Oslo. The first 
flight is expected to take off in spring 2022. The company's head office is in Arendal.

Technology

Norse choose Widerøe Ground Handling at Oslo Airport

‘We are very proud that SAS have reiterated their confidence and trust in us. The fact that we have regained the contract at 12 out of 15 airports shows that the effort invested by the whole company in recent years has paid dividends,’ says Marius Myhre, CEO of WGH.

WGH took over SAS’s operations at Norwegian out stations in 2016. Since then, the company has continued in its capacity as an independent operator to develop products and solutions that meet expectations and needs in the market. WGH and SAS have now signed a new, multi-year contract for the delivery of ground services commencing in 2021. The contract has an estimated value of almost NOK 900 million.

This new partnership will take effect from 1 February and encompasses the following airports:

Kirkenes, Alta, Lakselv, Svalbard, Evenes, Bodø, Trondheim, Kristiansund, Molde, Stavanger, Haugesund and Ålesund.

WGH will also retain a presence in Kristiansand, Bergen and Tromsø in order to serve our other partners, although our partnership with SAS will be ending in those locations.

‘SAS has great partnerships with our ground services providers at Norwegian airports. We look forward to continuing to ensure safe, secure travel experiences for our passengers in cooperation with WGH,’ says Gunilla Olsson, VP Global Line Stations at SAS Ground Handling.

Widerøe Ground Handling AS (WGH) provide ground handling services at 41 airports throughout Norway. WGH consists of 1800 motivated and dedicated employees, 3500 units of well maintained ground equipment and handle around 185.000 departures yearly.

SAS awards major ground services contract to Widerøe Ground Handling

The award of a contract at Haugesund Airport is an important milestone in the development of the company as a provider of security services at Norwegian airports.

\"When choosing WGH as a provider of Airport Security Control services, we are confident that we have chosen a supplier who possesses all the qualities we are looking for in terms of compliance with the strictest requirements for safety and quality. WGH is a partner at the airport today and we look forward to expanding and developing this collaboration so that the airport can achieve its goals of continuous improvement and efficiency in the challenging times the aviation industry is now facing and which will apply in the coming years \" says Tore Lillenes, CEO of Lufthavndrift AS.

At Haugesund Airport, WGH is headed by Station Manager Sveinung Helgeland. \"The tasks have so far been about passenger service, baggage and cargo handling for the various airlines that fly in and out of the airport, but we are now looking forward to welcoming new employees and establishing the security control service as a central part of our daily operations. \", he says.

WGH is Norway's largest provider of ground services for aircraft, with its own organization at 42 airports. Ground services include a comprehensive range of airport passenger handling and technical services. Services include such as passenger and luggagecheck-inn, boarding services, and arrival services.

WGH is also a major provider of \"Assistance Services\" to passengers with reduced mobility (PRM) at airports present. The company was recently awarded several contracts for the delivery of assistance services to PRMs valid from 1. May with Avinor (39 airports) in addition to a new contract with Haugesund Airport (HAU) valid from 1.June, in addition to an ongoing contract with Torp Sandefjord Airport (TRF). WGHis thereby by far the largest provider of assistance services to the traveling public at Norwegian airports (outside Oslo Airport).

Technical services include aircraft parking, ground power for aircraft, connecting air-bridges or steps, water filling, toilet emptying, loading and unloading of luggage, freight and mail, loading of catering goods for foreign aircraft, cleaning services and \"de-ice\" (removal of snow and ice from fuselages and wing surfaces before departure).

Widerøe Ground Handling is especially known among its traditional customers, the airlines, for being at the forefront of development on automation and innovative solutions for passenger service, information services and data exchange.

The company is a security-approved freight provider (“Regulated Agent”) at 39 of the airports and has at several of these its own security controllers and its own equipment for security control under a Security Program approved and monitored by the Civil Aviation Authority of Norway. WGH has its own certified instructors in the security control subjects and holds approval as a Training Company for Security controllers for airport service. With the acquisition of the security control services at Haugesund Airport, the company is taking an important step towards completing an already comprehensive product portfolio within airport-related services.

«Over time, we have developed the organization and built up the company's capacities and competencies within security services. I am pleased and proud when we can now implement our plan for the start-up of security control services at Haugesund Airport from autumn 2021. We will now establish a dialogue with the existing supplier to agree on a smooth transition for the employees affected\",says Marius Myhre, CEO of WGH.

Widerøe Ground Handling is awarded contract for Airport Security Control services at Haugesund Airport, Norway

The negotiations have been going on for some time. It is gratifying, both publicly as well as internally in WGH, to be able to share the news about the collaboration. The new contract applies to Ålesund (AES), Bergen (BGO), Bodø (BOO), Haugesund (HAU), Kristiansand (KRS), Molde (MOL), Stavanger (SVG), Tromsø (TOS) and Trondheim (TRD). These airports are in addition to the existing agreement for the delivery of ground services in Alta (ALF), Evenes (EVE), Kirkenes (KKN) and Torp (TRF). Starting mid-June, WGH employees will take care of Wizz Air's customers from the moment they arrive the airport, unloading and loading of luggage and goods as well as the handling of the aircraft on the ground.

“We are delighted to have extended our long established and successful cooperation with Wideroe Ground Handling AS. Our cooperation covered ALF, EVE, KKN & TRF until now and we are confident to receive the similarly high service level at AES, BGO, BOO, HAU, KRS, MOL, SVG, TOS & TRD too. Wizz Air now works with Wideroe Ground Handling at all of its Norwegian stations, except for one, creating ever more local job opportunities across Norway. The experience Wideroe has both about Wizz Air’s and about local airport operations in Norway is extremely valuable and will support Wizz Air’s high-quality operations and its possible future expansion in Norway. We are delighted to work with local companies in Norway and this extension of scope underpins the airline’s commitment and long term plans in Norway” – says András Sebők Chief Supply Supply Chain Officer at Wizz Air.

\"We are excited to have earned this trust from Wizz Air, and will use the time leading up to start to make proper preparations for a delivery of service we can be proud,\" says Kjell Ivar Maudal Commercial Director at Wideroe Ground Handling. «The fact that Wizz Air acknowledge a satisfying service and product at Torp. Alta, Evenes and Kirkenes have contributed to Wizz Air having a good impression of what we at WGH are capable of» he concludes.

Widerøe is the largest regional airline in Scandinavia, with a staff of 3,000 and a turnover of NOK 3.5 billion. The company carries around 2.8 million passengers annually and flies to 50 domestic and international destinations.

Wizz Air and Wideroe Ground Handling are expanding their collaboration in Norway

WGH has signed an agreement with Luxair for the delivery of ground handling 
services at Oslo Airport. The Luxembourg airline is operating two weekly direct 
flights between Luxemburg and Oslo. The routes are operated with Dash 8 Q400 
turboprop aircrafts.

Widerøe Ground Handling has also signed an agreement with the Danish airline 
DAT on ground handling services for their operations from Oslo Airport to Florø 
and Stord. The airline uses ATR42 propeller aircrafts. 

"With their in-depth knowledge of Norwegian airports, we are very happy to have 
reached an agreement with Widerøe Ground Handling", says DAT director Jesper 
Rungholm and adds: "The talks with Widerøe Ground Handling have been very 
positive, and the team and I look forward working with them."

Widerøe Ground Handling looks after Luxair and DAT's customers from the 
moment they arrive at the airport, via check-in and as a representative on behalf 
of the airlines when boarding the aircraft. The aircraft are looked after from the 
time they arrive at Oslo Airport, unloading and loading the luggage as well as 
shipping and de-icing the aircraft.

"WGH is very happy with the opportunity to handle both DAT and Luxair and their
customers at Oslo Airport. With DAT and Luxair WGH continues our ambition to 
be the preferred the supplier of ground services in Norway", says commercial 
director of Widerøe Ground Handling Kjell Ivar Maudal.

Widerøe Ground Handling has signed an agreement with Luxair and DAT

September 28th 2020 Widerøe airline sent out a Request for proposal (RFP) on ground handling at Oslo Airport Gardermoen. Several companies participated in the competition. Despite the fact that both WGH and Widerøe airline is part of the same company group, Widerøe AS, it is crucial to emphasize that the contract was won on commercial terms.

«Widerøe Ground Handling is extremely happy to have won this contract. We will start preparations immediately, so that WGH ensures that the airline and their customers will receive the service we have agreed upon, from day one \", says Kjell Ivar Maudal, CCO of WGH.

WGH is now establishing OSL as a new station from May 1st 2021. OSL will be the 42nd of WGH's stations in Norway. Spring of 2021 it will be almost 13 years since Widerøe Handling last operated on OSL, over the period October 8th 1998 to September 31st 2008.

“Prior to the start-up date we will need to recruit employees”, Kjell Ivar Maudal says. “We are optimistic and believes in a number of potentially skilled future employees and colleagues for hire prior to May 1st.”

Prior to Covid-19 Widerøe airline operated approx. 7,000 flights in and out of OSL annually. During the corona pandemic flights are down to 5,500. This accounts for approx. 27 daily versus 16 during the pandemic on a given weekday.

When establishing at Oslo airport WGH will be open for further opportunities and potentially additional business with other airlines.

Widerøe Ground Handling:

Widerøe Ground Handling is the largest aviation ground handler in Norway

WGH handles ground services for airlines at 41 airports (42 counting OSL from May 2021)

In 2019, the company had a turnover of +1.1 billion, and 1,800 employees

The company is part of the Widerøe group which is owned by Torghatten ASA with 66% and Fjord 1 with 33%

NEWS FEED

Celebrating 90 years of everyday life & adventure!

Qatar Airways Cargo to Narvik/Harstad Airport, Evenes

Norwegian awards the ground services contract to Widerøe Ground Handling at 16 airports in Norway

Widerøe Ground Handling is proud to be Braathens Regional Airlines partner in Norway

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