Discover Faraoe Island’s remarkable knitting culture. If you are a pro or just interested in knitting there’s actually a knitting Festival on Faroe Islands 14-16 April 2016. It is also an exclusively opportunity to stay with the locals.
The first ever Knitting Festival was held in 2015 and it turned out to be a huge success, with hundreds of people from abroad joining many locals to learn about knitting and enjoy each other’s company.
This year there will be knitting workshops, lectures at cafes and gatherings in the homes of the people of Fuglafjødur over three days.
“‘We want to give our guests the complete knitting experience,” says Steintóra, one of the festival’s four organizers.
Knitting model from Faroe Islands
“The festival will in particular focus on the social aspect, getting to know one another through knitting. We want people to enjoy themselves whilst learning new things. Being Faroese, we’ve naturally also emphasized the importance of good food! Women, food and knitting needles belong together!”
You may enjoy several of the 70 workshops, held by 23 different experts, some from the Faroe Islands and others from abroad. The majority of these workshops will be held in one of the 26 living rooms that people will wander in and out of. There will also be opportunities to take guided walks through the village of Fuglafjørður.
The Festival Banquet
The festival will not only be about knitting. You may also dress up in your finest attire at the festival’s banquet, which will be held on the last evening. The Faroese are known for their social gatherings, which are never short of exceptionally good food, soulful singing and joyous dancing, guaranteeing you a great time!
Accommodation This is a rare opportunity to have new friends by spending your nights in the homes of the locals of Fuglafjørður. Choosing this option, you’ll live together with the house owners for the duration of the festival. Another option is to rent an apartment or flat in Fuglafjørður.
Other accommodation options (outside of Fuglafjørður) include Bed and Breakfasts and hotels across the country.
Forget the stereotypical image of a cool Scandinavian: visitors to Norway can be assured of a warm and friendly welcome.
Some say that Norwegians can be cool almost to the point of rudeness when you first meet them. Thomas Hylland Eriksen, professor of social anthropology at the University of Oslo, wants to set that stereotype straight.
“Norwegians have a general reputation for being slightly aloof and difficult to approach. While there may be some truth to this, due to late urbanization and the persistence of rural values, one cannot generalize.”
Thomas Hylland Eriksen. Photo: Jarle H. Moe / Studvest.
It’s equally true to say that once you’ve overcome that initial distance and a Norwegian has got to know you, their warmth and hospitality are unmistakable.
Flaam is like a toy village
The Norwegian character is complex and sometimes contradictory. Norwegians may be slow in offering their opinions, but when they do their views are forthright. They pride themselves on their internationalism (rather than nationalism), yet can be incredibly inward-looking.
They have strong cultural and economic links with the rest of Europe but stubbornly insist on staying outside the European Union. And the enthusiasm of so many Norwegians to participate in commercial whaling often seems to have less to do with its value as an industry, and more to do with a hatred of being told what to do by the international community.
Erna Solberg, Prime Minister of Norway met with Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission in Brussels in January 2015. Photo: Juha Roininen, EUP Images/SMK
The rugged landscapes, which centuries ago created Norway’s geographical isolation, have taught Norwegians to be fiercely independent and self-reliant. This independence was reinforced by the discovery of oil in the 1960s. A strong stable economy and comprehensive social security system have created a comfortable standard of living and cohesive society, where people feel protected if things go wrong.
Norwegian oil rig
Norwegians have been known to grumble about bad roads and expensive gasoline, but they feel quite secure in their country, where democratic values are upheld and there is little, if any, corruption.
Beggar in Oslo
Immigration challenges Historically, Norway is one of the oldest nations in Europe, if not the oldest. Its people can trace an unbroken line of descent from those who inhabited the area in prehistoric times. During the Viking era, Norway controlled an enormous territory from Russia to the British Isles, and the common European tongue was Old Norse. Yet today, Norway was reconstituted as late as 1905 when the union with Sweden was finally dissolved. The dominance of Old Norse may have gone, but today’s Norwegians have regained their pride.
May 17, The Norwegian Constitution Day
Norwegian women have fought for equality for over a century – and appear to be winning. Women are particularly well represented in the political sphere, making up 40 percent of MPs and exactly half of the cabinet.
WW2, Invasion of Norway
World War II, and the Nazi occupation, was a massive shock to the Norwegian psyche. There’s still a deep-felt anger against the supposedly neutral Swedes for permitting the transit of German troops into Norway.
After the war, the Norwegians realized with some reluctance that strategically they had no choice but to seek the protection of others. So they signed up to NATO, not least as protection against Russia, another unreliable neighbor in the north.
Jens Stoltenberg (NATO Secretary General): It is really a great honour and a great pleasure to welcome the Prime Minister of Norway to the NATO Headquarters
But they turned their backs on the European Union. The importance of fishing and farming and the security of the oil revenues meant that economically they preferred to go it alone.
It’s too easy, however, to equate this self-reliance with xenophobia. Norwegians don’t fear or dislike foreigners, although like their Scandic neighbors, they have experienced an influx of immigrants in recent years. Unfortunately this have given fuel to far-right politicians eager to exploit people’s fear of an invading “otherness”, but in spite of immigration concerns and far-right rhetoric, Norway is one of the most stable of European countries.
Population graph for Norway
Even the 2008 economic crisis had minimal effect thanks to the country’s oil wealth, held for the benefit of the whole nation in a sovereign wealth fund (SWF). The DWF now exceed 3 trillion kroner, but the fall in oil prices has put a hold on new oil and gas exploration in the Arctic region, and Norway has now entered a phase of a changing workforce mindset.
Home comforts Hospitality is second nature to a Norwegian, whether he or she lives in Oslo or on the remotest corner of Finnmark. If you’re planning to visit people at home, be prepared – there’s a lot of coffee to be drink and cake to be eaten. Schnapps is also something that gets poured generously. The food will be plentiful and wholesome; your host will expect nothing in return except some appreciative comments about the welcome and any traditional dishes being served.
Norwegian cozyness
Thanks to all that oil, and a very generous social security system, there is relatively little poverty in Norway. But nor are they at all ostentatious about their wealth and, especially in rural areas, life can still be very simple.
Small-town life The more enigmatic aspects of the Norwegian character – including the Nordic gloom that can descend after a drink too many – have been famously scrutinized by Henrik Ibsen. He was brought up in small communities and, during a long exile, turned his critical eye on the experience. One of the themes running through Ibsen’s work is the double-edged nature of life in such a community: mutual support in adversity weighed against a suffocating lack of privacy at other times.
The Jante Law
The lesser-known, Danish/Norwegian Aksel Sandemose wrote “Ten Commandments for Village Life” in a fictional novel about a town called Jante, the essence being humility bordering on self-abasement. They included: “You must not think that you are worth anything; you must not think that you are better than anyone else; you must not think yourself capable of anything worthwhile; and you must not think that you are in any way exceptional.” Scandinavians today are still guided by this fictional Jante Law (janteloven).
Land of many dialects Norway’s rural nature has compounded one of its thorniest problems – language. The issue has split the country for over a century. Throwing off the Danish-dominated bokmål (book language) was crucial to the independence activists of the 19th century. Unfortunately there was no Norwegian alternative on offer, just a variety of often very divergent dialects.
Language is hard
Various attempts were made to bring these together into a truly national language knowns as nynorsk (new Norwegian), but these were never more than a partial success, and even now there are huge regional variations in the spoken tongue.
Most Norwegians speak English extremely well and are more than happy to do so. They realized it was taking national pride too far to deny the pre-eminence of English. Indeed, many an urbanite will claim it’s much easier to understand a foreigner speaking English than one of their compatriots speaking a regional dialect.
Worlds apart Norway’s geography and its sparse population (less than 5 million people) have entrenched cultural and economic fragmentation too. Rural lives depended on agriculture, and the land was roo poor to support more than a family or two in a single valley. Separated from their neighbors by mountains, which were easier to cross in winter on skis than in summer on foot, they effectively lived in worlds apart. Families managed on their own, a resourcefulness which still runs in the blood.
From Vistdal
Whether it’s the outdoor life or all the fish in the diet, Norwegians enjoy amazing longevity. They manage to look remarkably healthy all their lives, and the octogenarian grandmother whizzing by on skis is not entirely a myth.
The Swedish king who reluctantly oversaw Norway’s independence predicted that bureaucratic incompetence would soon have Norwegians begging to return to the fold. That, of course, never happened, and modern Norway is a strong, successful socialist state.
Spitsbergen Global Seed Bank
In February 2008, the remote Spitsbergen Global Seed Bank officially opened. Built to be war- and disaster-proof, it acts as a living library of all known varieties of the world’s crops.
Winter is a time when many of us can feel a bit low, so we decided to cheer you up with some Scandinavian design lessons. Easter is coming, but spring still seems a long way off.
It’s no wonder we get a touch of the winter blues. Yet, in Scandinavia where the winters are long and dark, people manage to keep surprisingly upbeat. In fact, the recent World Happiness Report conducted by the UN found that the population of Denmark was the happiest in the world. Norway followed at second place and Sweden at fifth place. How do they do it?
One way is through design: creating a home environment that is conducive to happiness. Scandinavian design is renowned for its stylish simplicity. And there are many lessons we can learn from it to help beat the winter blues.
Let in the light
Scandinavians recognize the importance of natural daylight. It is so essential to our wellbeing, and we tend to be happier when there is more of it. Because there are so few daylight hours during the winter, Scandinavian homes are designed to let as much light in as possible. Windows are large and kept clear of obstruction.
Follow their example by getting rid of heavy curtains. And keep window sills free from ornaments. If you need window covers for privacy, opt for sheer floaty fabrics. Or you could consider wooden shutters for night-time use. These have the added advantage of helping to retain heat, and insulate against the cold,
Maximize natural light in the home
Have you ever wondered why so many images of Scandinavian homes feature white interiors? Painting walls in white or pale shades will make your home look brighter and bounce the light around. Glossy and polished surfaces also help. So ditch the carpet and replace with wooden floors or tiles that have a subtle reflective sheen. And don’t forget mirrors. They can reflect, and thereby increase the amount of light in a room. So hang wall mirrors strategically opposite windows.
Add some wood
Warm up your interiors by introducing more natural wood into your home. This could be by way of furniture, flooring or even wall panels. A predominant feature in Scandinavian interiors, wood works in perfect balance with a white decorating scheme. As well as having a warm appearance, it acts as a natural insulator too. Adding more wood will help create a cozy and welcoming home.
Candles
On dark winter evenings, candles add warmth, light and coziness. In the absence of daylight, fire is the most natural light source. And they cast a really flattering glow: everything looks better by candlelight. So place decorative candle and tea light holders all around your home – they will make beautiful home accessories. Then, once it’s dark, you can light them to create a magical atmosphere.
Nature and well-being
Nature is an important feature at the heart of the Scandinavian lifestyle. And despite the cold winters, it is very much an outdoor one. People get out into the fresh air as much as possible to keep healthy and promote well-being. Introduce plants and greenery into your home. They bring nature and the outdoors inside – and they really help bring a room to life. In addition, try to go out every day. You’ll feel much better for it. It prevents you from feeling sluggish and puts a new perspective on things. You may even find sources of inspiration which you can then bring into your home.
Simple and stylish furniture
Furniture from designers such as Arne Jacobsen, Hans Wegner Verner Panton and Alvar Aalto are world renowned. And with good reason. The dean lines and organic shapes of pieces like the Series 7 chair are simple and minimal. But this is not a cold, clinical minimalism. Instead, it creates a calm atmosphere and feeling of spaciousness. Something that’s really important when spending extended periods of time indoors. Invest in timeless quality furniture, with thoughtful design that is a pleasure to use and look at. They will always give you that feel good factor.
Streamlined storage
Good storage is key to creating an airy and spacious Scandinavian style interior. If possible, go for built-in furniture which will give your home a more streamlined look. Get rid of all clutter and only keep on display those items that are a pleasure to look at. Everything else should be stored away out of sight. This alone will make for a calmer and less stressful home.
Cozy soft furnishings
Dress your sofa with cushions and throws to create a warm and relaxing haven and a place to rejuvenate. Opt for soft greys for a soothing look. Or for an injection of color, you could go for shades of purple and burgundy with traditional Scandi motifs.
A dining table for entertaining
Socializing is a big part of the culture. So a good-sized dining table and chairs are essential for entertaining. Savoring the time spent in good company, with great conversation and delicious food is just the thing to help lift the spirits.
Hygge
Hygge is perhaps the secret ingredient to the feel-good Scandinavian lifestyle. And in one word probably sums up much of what has been written above. It is a way to describe enjoying the good things in life. Originally a Norwegian word, it is now widely used in Denmark. It’s all about the everyday simple pleasures that nourish the soul: appreciating beautiful design, a bracing walk, time spent with a friend – even enjoying a cup of coffee. And it’s about creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. For a happy life filled with wonderful moments (whatever the time of year) why not follow the Danish example, and bring more hygge into your daily life.
Written by Sarah Ansbacher (co-founder of Mocha, part online home store, part design blog).
This article, 10 Scandinavian Design Lessons to Help Beat the Winter Blues, was published in Freshome on 30 January, 2014. We thank the publisher for their kind permission to reprint this article.
But visitors pay a minimum of $5,000 (and upwards of $25,000) for a measly 7 day trip.
So if you’re like me and want to experience Antarctica – but don’t have the money yet – we can live vicariously through these 5 fun facts!
Photo: Hurtigruten/Arnau Ferrer
Antarctica is a desert because it receives very little rain.
Penguins, whales, seals, and fish all live in Antarctica. There are no land mammals – including polar bears who live in the ARCTIC. In fact, the name “Antarctica” is the combination of “anti” and “artik” meaning “no bears.”
Antarctica is managed by 45 countries, 7 of which claim parts of it as national territory. Those seven are: Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, New Zealand, Norway and the UK.
Antarctica has as much ice as there is water in the Atlantic Ocean.
Antarctica is the highest, driest, windiest, coldest continent on Earth. Its lowest recorded temperature is -89.6ºF (-67ºC)! Brrrrr!!!
Photo: Hurtigruten/Dominic Barrington
Pretty cool huh?
Photo: Hurtigruten/Mark McDermott
If you’re not like me – and have the money – check out what’s available:
Scandinavians are great meat eaters. The surviving recipes from the past were mostly recorded in wealthier households, as they ate much more meat that the poorer majority who survived on a diet of porridge, and later bread and potatoes, with the occasional piece of meat.
In the 1960s, Scandinavians generally became wealthier very fast, and meat consumption rocketed, especially chicken and beef. Cheap meat like offal was rarely eaten, and the general idea about meat as food changed. Most still regard vegetables as an accompaniment to meat, and not the other way round.
So the heritage of Scandinavians is made up from different periods: very old ways of roasting big cuts of meat and game, and festive pork and mutton recipes. More recently there have been seen bourgeois stews and more intricate dishes inspired by France and England, and relatively new dishes from minced meat.
Before the meat grinder was invented in the mid-19th century, minced meat was a rare and expensive treat, and sausages were a delicacy. The home meat-grinder immediately became immensely popular, because it meant that large parts of the animal could be used for immediate consumption, and a whole new array of Scandinavian dishes became everyday food of the majority of the population.
Another part of the Scandinavian legacy are the salted, boiled meats which have a much older ancestry, as salting, drying and smoking were the only way to preserve meat 150 years ago.
Chicken soup with dumplings
A huge pot of steaming chicken soup is food for friends and family for several days, and the essence of home cooking. It is always made with a piece of beef, preferably a fatty cut, which will cook to melting tenderness in a couple of hours.
The soup may take some time to prepare, but you can serve it for several days in a row, the chicken first, with sauce and steamed cabbage, and the beef the day after with leeks. The soup can be served plain, or with dumplings and small dice of parsley root and sliced leeks. (The dumplings can be made several days in advance and stored in a closed container in the fridge.)
Scandinavian Poultry, Meat, Game & Offal, written by Tor Kjolberg
For the soup 1 large chicken (approx.. 3 kg) or 2 smaller chickens
2kg beef neck, on the bone
3 onions, quartered
5 carrots
1 parsley root or parsnip
½ celeriac or ½ head of celery
8 small leeks
1 small bunch if fresh thyme
2 bay leaves
1 tablespoon black peppercorns
4 garlic cloves
1 clove
1 bunch of parsley
3 tablespoons coarse sea salt
For the sauce 600 ml stock
2 tablespoons white wine or cider vinegar
4 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons corn-flour
200ml whipping cream
6 tablespoons freshly grated horseradish
50g currants
3 tablespoons coarse sea salt
For the dumplings 125g salted butter
125g plain flour
1 teaspoon sea salt
250ml water or stock
4-5 eggs
Serves 14-16
Put the chicken and beef in a pan that’s capacious enough to hold everything comfortably. Cover with cold water and bring slowly to the boil, then lower the heat to a simmer. Remove any scum frequently.
Meanwhile rinse all the vegetables and cut into chunks; the green parts of the leeks go into the pan at this stage, but reserve the white parts for later. When there’s no scum on the surface of the soup, throw in the vegetables, herbs and spices, including the parsley, stalks and all (reserve a little parsley to chop as a garnish). Remove any scum again and, when it is gone, season with the salt.
When the thighs can be easily loosened from the carcass, the chicken’s done. Lift it from the pot with two slotted spoons and leave until the bird is cool enough to handle. Remove the skin and cut the breast meat from the carcass, then remove the thighs and cut them in two; remove the two nuggets of meat from the back, and the upper part of the wings. Dave all this meat, and return the carcass and skin to the pot.
Test the beef and remove from the pan when really tender; Taste the soup. It may need reducing, and it may need salt; you’re after an intensely flavored soup, but be careful not to oversalt it if the stock still needs reducing. When you’re happy, put the soup through a sieve. Cool a little and remove the fat from the surface with a spoon. Reserve 600ml for the sauce, and put the rest in the fridge unless you are going to eat it the same day.
For the sauce, put the stock, vinegar and sugar in a pan and reduce to half. Blend the cornflour and cream. Whisk this into the sauce and let it boil for 5 minutes until the floury taste has gone, then remove from the heat. Add the horseradish and currants, and adjust the salt. Add more horseradish if you wish; the sauce must be hot, slightly sweet and a little sour.
To make the dumplings, mix the butter flour, salt and water (or stock) in a pan, and stir continuously until the batter is glossy, and comes away from the sides of the pan. Cool a little. Ehen it is lukewarm, beat in the eggs one at a time, and stop when the batter is thick (you may not need the fifth egg). Bring a pan of water to the boil, then drop marble-sized blobs of batter into the simmering water – you can use a plastic bag, with a corner cut off, or a proper piping bag to do this. When the dumplings rise to the top they are done.
Serve the soup first, with the dumplings and the white parts of the leeks. Heat the meat gently in a little of the soup (this can be done in a slow oven), dust the meat with parsley and serve with an assortment of steamed vegetables, potatoes, and the delicious sauce.
The Storting building (Norwegian: Stortingsbygningen), the seat of the Storting, the parliament of Norway, is located in central Oslo. It was taken into use on 5 March 1866 and was designed by the Swedish architect Emil Victor Langlet.
Langlet was intent on making the Storting building accessible to the population. The stairs to the Storting Chamber’s public gallery start from just inside one of the three elegant doors, facing main street Karl Johan.
When the Storting building was completed in 1866, it was unique and innovative. It didn’t look quite like other parliaments; a relatively small building, yet one with a character all of its own. Rather than towering grandly above the people, it joined them at street level, comfortable among the city populace.
The Storting Chamber, its circular form clearly visible to the outside world, provided the population with a tantalizing glimpse of the democratic debate taking place inside. The front of the Storting was an example of how a parliament ought to appear and be: open and accessible, with windows looking out on the electorate, and nine equal entrance doors to invite the public in.
“By marking the 150th anniversary of the building, we will also be celebrating what takes place inside. This will be a truly festive occasion,” said Olemic Thommessen, President of the Storting.
Today the Storting is among Norway’s most characteristic buildings, and has become an integral part of the urban landscape. Yet the fact that the Storting is sited where it is, and the fact that it looks like it does, was hardly a foregone conclusion. The building’s completion in 1866 was the culmination of several decades of vehement debate about location and design. An architectural competition was arranged, and the original winning entry was a towering neo-Gothic structure. This was never built.
The Nazi-occupied Parliament in 1941
The Storting is a building that richly deserves to be celebrated. 2016 will play host to a wide variety of jubilee events and initiatives, including exhibitions, seminars and city walks. And on 9th May the Storting has invited children to a very special outdoor jubilee party. Invitations have already been sent to all 5th year school classes in Oslo and Akershus. That same afternoon, the Storting will also be opening its doors to the public.
After only a few decades, however, it became clear that Langlet’s Storting was too small. A new architectural competition was announced in 1949, and once again the building became the center of intense debate.
When celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Storting building, we are also toasting the successful union of two architects and two epochs. “The new has entered into a joyful union with the old,” as President of the Storting, Nils Langhelle, so aptly put it in 1959.
A new book about the Storting building, written by the architect Peter Butenschøn, has been launched. A film about the history of the building will also be given its premiere. Both the book and film will also be available in English.
The National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design will be putting on a special jubilee exhibition to mark the anniversary of the Storting building. The museum will be displaying original drawings and models connected to the process leading up to the building of the Storting in 1866. The anthology Debatten om stortingsbygningen 1836–1866 (“The debate about the Storting building 1836-1866”), edited by Mari Hvattum, will be launched at the opening of the exhibition on 12th March. More about the National Museum’s exhibition.
Norway’s Parliament Building Celebrates its 150th Anniversary, compiled from Stortinget’s official websites
The story of how Norway in the course of one hundred years went from poverty to riches started in the factory towns. In the period 1905-1920, the towns were established by the deep fjords in the valleys where there was access to power: Rjukan, Notodden, Tyssedal, Odda, Høyanger, Sauda, Ålvik and Glomsfjord.
Every day the residents of these towns crept out of their architect-designed houses and showed up at the factory. Afterwards they visited Norway’s best libraries, were swimming in one of the country’s first swimming pools, were kissing in the back row in the finest theatres and watched sports games at the country’s best stadiums.
Eva Royrane has written a book on the “Factory Towns in Hardanger”. “In the early 1900s the most modern cities of Norway was to be found here,” she writes. The book is an encyclopedia of contemporary Norwegian architecture. The country’s foremost architects got frolic in these factory towns.
The industrialists needed family people and stability should they make money. They must have had a purpose and a philosophy to create fine cities. There were music pavilions, large “city schools”, parks, gardens and alleys.
Sam Eyde, photo 1908
“This way you don’t only build towns, you build societies,” writes Royrane.
From Aalvik, Hardanger
White waterfalls were tamed, and the power used for industrial electrochemical and electrometallurgical production. The waterfalls were the Norwegian, white gold.
Tyssedal power plant
The industrialist Sam Eyde, who founded Norsk Hydro at Notodden in 1905, had seen how the Germans secured labor using good homes in beautifully designed urban areas. He brought his knowledge with him to Norway, and the workers came. Why should they leave for America, when they could find work at the factory and have houses with water closets?
Rjukan, Notodden, Odda and Tyssedal were placed on the prestigious Wold Heritage List on 5 July 2015 with the following description of “prominent, universal value”:
“Located in a dramatic landscape of mountains, waterfalls and river valleys, the site comprises hydroelectric power plants, transmission lines, factories, transport systems and towns. The complex was established by the Norsk-Hydro Company to manufacture artificial fertilizer from nitrogen in the air. It was built to meet the Western world’s growing demand for agricultural production in the early 20th century. The company towns of Rjukan and Notodden show workers’ accommodation and social institutions linked by rail and ferry to ports where the fertilizer was loaded. The Rjukan-Notodden site manifests an exceptional combination of industrial assets and themes associated to the natural landscape. It stands out as an example of a new global industry in the early 20th century.”
Feature photo (on top): Odda, February 2004
Welcome to Norway’s Factory Towns, written by Tor Kjolberg
Today we invite you into a small apartment in Gothenburg, Sweden, to show you how the Swedes maximize space and make you feel welcome.
The apartment is located in a charming turn of the century building in the popular Vasastan district of Gothenburg.
In spite of rather small space, the rooms are well organized with a strong appeal and comfortable amenities, showcasing Scandinavian interior design at its best. The apartment perfectly meets the living needs of a couple or a small family.
The apartment has a large balcony to the east.
The renovated kitchen has a modern design and is gorgeous.
There is a generously-sized living room. Scandinavians know how color choices in the rooms impact on your mood, energy level and appetite. Some colors can make you feel calm and bring down your blood pressure, while others can make you feel excited and raise it.
Two large windows flood the entire home in light.
A cozy bedroom is separated from the social area through traditional double doors, so guests can have a peak at the next room, without it having to be too tidy.
In general, the color white had been chosen for this lovely apartment since it highlights its modern elements, and gives the feeling of a bright and airy space.
Europe’s third-largest low-cost carrier, Norwegian reached a total revenue of 22.5 BNOK (£1.8bn) in 2015 – an increase of 15 per cent. The production growth (ASK) increased by 5 per cent, which illustrates a breather in the company’s expansion, explained by phasing out older aircraft whilst adding new aircraft to the fleet. The load factor remained high at 86 per cent in 2015, up 5 percentage points from the year before. Norwegian carried close to 26 million passengers in 2015, an increase of 7 per cent from 2014.
Not only did unit revenue grow, driven by a sharp increase in passenger load factor, but also unit cost fell. Pre-tax result improved by £137 or 1.7 billion Norwegian krones (NOK) over 2014.
The company reports a net profit of £6 million (75 MNOK). The figure was heavily influenced by an unrealized loss on fuel hedging for 2016 and 2017, which makes up 800 MNOK. Adjusted for such unrealized hedging, the 2015 pre-tax result was £70 million (875 MNOK). This was a strong improvement compared to -1.168 MNOK the previous year.
However, chief executive Bjørn Kjos warned that plans to introduce a passenger tax in Norway is creating an “uncertain situation. It is a paradox that the company with the lowest emissions seems to be punished the hardest.”
Norwegian operates 20 bases worldwide and opens its first in Italy at Rome Fiumicino airport on March 27.
The airline’s low-cost long-haul fleet of Boeing 787 Dreamliners, which operate transatlantic routes from Gatwick, is set to grow to 12 by the end of 2016.
Kjos said: “Norwegian is establishing and preparing for an organizational structure that will secure cost efficient international expansion and necessary traffic rights for the future.
Norwegian’s long haul network 2014
In February 2016, Norwegian reached an agreement with cabin crew in Norway and Denmark. The new collective agreements are for a two-year period and will secure a steady foundation for the coming years.
We enter 2016 with favorable fuel costs and one of the youngest fleets in Europe, which presents a significant competitive advantage.”
2015 – A Profitable Year for Norwegian, written by Tor Kjolberg
The Michelin Nordic Cities Guide for 2016 was released last week and proves that Michelin Stars are shining bright in Scandinavia.
The most notable addition this year is that Michelin has handed down two new three-star awards, marking the first three-star rankings to appear in the Nordic Guide.
From Geranium restaurant in Copenhagen
Geranium in Copenhagen and Maaemo in Oslo are the first Scandinavian restaurants ever to earn three stars in the Michelin Nordic guide, making them part of the exclusive club of just 116 three-star restaurants worldwide.
From Maaemo restaurant in Oslo
In the two star category the Fäviken restaurant in Åre, Sweden jumped straight to two stars. Noma in Copenhagen remained at two stars. There were a total of 11 new one star restaurants added to the guide; five in Sweden, four in Denmark and two in Norway.
From Faviken restaurant in Aare, Sweden
The guide also included a total of 33 Bib Gourmands, which is up from 30 last year. These are restaurants 2hich “offer excellent value for money”.
Rebecca Burr, editor in chief of the Michelin Nordic Guide says, “This year’s Nordic guide is particularly exciting. We are welcoming two new three-star restaurants, and, for the first time ever, expanding our reach beyond the major cities and out into the country.”
