Patriotic Pilot Peachy: Norwegian Announces First American tailfin Hero: Benjamin Franklin
Norwegian's new Boeing 737 MAX aircraft decorated with its first American tailfin hero, Benjamin Franklin
Norwegian, the World's Best Low-Cost Long-Haul Airline and Europe's Best Low-Cost Airline, today announced Benjamin Franklin as its first American tailfin hero. The likeness of the inventor and statesman, who was often called the "first American" because of his tireless campaigning to unify the colonies, will adorn the airline's newest Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft. The new American hero is scheduled to make its maiden voyage from the Boeing Flight Center in Seattle to Oslo, Norway and shortly thereafter make its inaugural flight between Europe and the United States.
Since its founding, Norwegian has a time-honored tradition of celebrating iconic, historical figures on the tails of its aircraft. Each person who is featured on a tailfin embodies Norwegian's spirit of pushing boundaries, inspiring others and challenging the status quo. To commemorate Norwegian's expansion in the United States, the airline will introduce a series of American icons over the next few months. Norwegian now offers 63 routes from the U.S. There are 57 transatlantic routes from 15 U.S. airports to Denmark, France, Ireland, Norway, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom and six routes to the French Caribbean.
Benjamin Franklin was born in Boston, Massachusetts and relocated to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in his late teens where he later started a successful printing business. Additionally, he was an inventor, statesman and a leading figure in American history. Franklin is best known as one of the Founding Fathers of the United States and authors of the Declaration of Independence.
"We are proud to decorate our newest Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft with Benjamin Franklin. Not only is he an American icon, but he was also a truly fresh air thinker and a pioneer for so many reasons," said Thomas Ramdahl, Norwegian's Chief Commercial Officer. "Norwegian has always been inspired by brave people who defy convention – and that is Mr. Franklin. It is an honor to recognize an American founder on one of our aircraft, and this gesture also symbolizes all of the great things we have planned for Norwegian in the United States."
The new aircraft featuring Benjamin Franklin is Norwegian's third Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft this year. In total, Norwegian will take delivery of three additional Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft from the 110 it has on order. The airline operates one of the world's youngest fleets with an average age of just 3.6 years.
About Norwegian Norwegian is the world's sixth largest low-cost airline and carried 30 million passengers in 2016. The airline operates more than 500 routes to 150 destinations in Europe, North Africa, Middle East, Thailand, Caribbean and the U.S. Norwegian has a fleet of more than 130 aircraft, with an average age of 3.6 years, making it one of the world's youngest fleets. Norwegian was named the Most Fuel-Efficient Airline on Transatlantic Routes by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT). Norwegian was named the World's Best Low-Cost Long-Haul Airline by the renowned SkyTrax World Airline Awards for the third consecutive year Europe's Best Low-Cost Airline for the fifth consecutive year. Norwegian employs 6,000 people. Follow @Fly_Norwegian on Twitter, join the discussion on Facebook and keep up with our adventures on Instagram. For more information on Norwegian and its network, visit norwegian.com.
