Dreamliner turns into a Nightmare at Oslo-Dear!

For a recent trip to Oslo I managed to combine my work with a desire to try out the Dreamliner. Norwegian.com an airline with a heavy presence in Oslo were using their newly delivered Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner for crew training on their busy Oslo to Gatwick services. For just £49 I managed to get a seat aboard the Gatwick bound service on a Sunday evening. 

A typical line up in Oslo

  Outbound from London that morning I used the SAS service from Heathrow's Terminal 3. At only £110 one way versus in excess of £200 on BA and Norwegian - by combining airlines and being flexible with airports I saved over £100 if I had just booked a straight return flight with any of the 3 carriers flying this route.

Norwegian have brought about a lot of competition for SAS across Scandanavia, using low fares, high frequency, and latterly new aircraft to create a good reliable service. Nowhere more so is this evident than at Oslo's Gardermoen Airport. Norwegian is introducing long Haul services to Bangkok and the US, using the B787 Dreamliner. With all the extra flights, transit passengers, and natural growth in services from Europe to Oslo, the Terminal has become very congested. For my visit, the excitement was tempered by the Long Que at security, then another long Que to get to the Non Schengen departure lounge where the 250 passengers on our flight mixed with another 500 or so passengers going to New York on Norwegian, London on BA & SAS and a Thomas Cook A330-300 with 405 seats preparing for departure in a few hours to Bangkok. In addition the small collection of Cafes, Bars and one fast food outlet were inundated - yet the massive Duty Free shop you are forced to walk through was doing a roaring trade!



Too late by two years, Oslo has started to expand the airside piers of the airport, with a major addition of a 3rd Pier extending outwards. For the next 18 months however passengers will be very frustrated at busy times with Oslo's poor planning. 


The Dreamliner however, was a very good flight, with the extra size of the windows, better lighting and overhead storage creating a sense of space and comfort for all. Norwegian have a small Premium cabin at the front 5 rows, sets in a 2-3-2 configuration. In the Economy section that becomes 3-3-3.

  

For plane spotters keen to spend a day at Norway's Premier airport, then views are limited from the Main terminal area, save for the main 01R/19L Runway, where after mid day from the end of the terminal complex on the departures level, great views of the ramp can be had, along with the runway (albeit subject to heat haze in summer). Those needing elevation can also go to the adjacent car park and go to the top level. Initially you'll be disappointed with the fence that is too high to photograph over, but walk along to the point where the car park re-angles itself and a gap allows views over the Schengen part of the pier, the main pier, as well as anything taxing to or using Runway 01R/19L. For those wishing to see the Domestic, GAT and Cargo area, then views are had from inside the terminal and turning left after security. Or for the more intrepid a walk or bus to the Comfort Hotel near Runway 01L will allow for better views.

For more pictures like the ones shown, or to have a look at other aircraft related images then please click through to my website : Oslo Pictures @ Plane Sight Images

EI-LNA, The first dreamliner for Norweigian.com; arrives from Malaga

SAS continues to battle with Norwegian at Oslo

in flight with the dreamliner in a right turn