Norwegian's local development & humanitarian engagement
Creating economic and social value at our bases and destinations are important objectives that underlines Norwegian’s ambition to be a good corporate citizen.
Boosting local economies and creating new jobs
In 2018, Norwegian continued to create economic and social value at new and existing bases and at all destinations. By the year-end, Norwegian had launched more than 35 new routes and operated more than 500 routes to over 150 destinations.
Global expansion and new routes boost local tourism, create jobs, drive economic growth and social progress. Norwegian’s contribution to the Scandinavian tourism industry is substantial, according to a report from the economic analysis company Menon. Tourists visiting Norway, Sweden, and Denmark using Norwegian contribute to sustaining 40,000 jobs in the tourism industry (Norway: 17,000; Sweden: 10,000; Denmark: 13,000).
Norwegian’s contribution to the US economy is also considerable. Since 2013, Norwegian has carried over 5.5 million visitors to the US on more than 60 transatlantic routes, which has significantly boosted the creation of American jobs in the travel and tourism industry, including at Fort Lauderdale and Oakland/ San Francisco, where international flights have been scarce. Norwegian is one of the largest customers of American aircraft manufacturer, Boeing. According to calculations from the US Department of Commerce in 2016, Norwegian’s firm aircraft order from Boeing was valued at more than USD 18.5 billion, which in turn, helps to create and support up to 100,000 American jobs. In addition, Norwegian’s own workforce increased from 9,600 in 2017 to 10,215 people in 2018.
Supporting the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) consist of 17 universal goals set by the UN. The Goals are interconnected and aim to address global challenges related to sustainable development, including poverty, inequality, climate, environmental degradation, prosperity, and peace and justice. Norwegian supports the 2030 agenda for sustainable development. Norwegian has selected the following SDGs, where we believe we will make the greatest contributions:
Goal #1: End poverty in all its forms everywhere
Goal #8: Promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all
Goal #13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
Goal #17: Enhance global partnerships for sustainable development
Our work with UNICEF
“The children are the future and we should do everything we can to make the world a better place for the ones who need it the most,” - Norwegian’s CEO Bjørn Kjos.
Since 2007, UNICEF has been Norwegian's most important humanitarian partner. Administered by the company’s top management, the Signature Partnership is the highest form of partnership UNICEF Norway offers corporate clients.
UNICEF is mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to advocate for the protection of children’s rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential. UNICEF insists that the survival, protection and development of children are universal development imperatives that are integral to human progress.
Together with our passengers, Norwegian has raised millions of dollars that have helped hundreds of thousands of children all around the world. Since 2014, the airline has carried out four humanitarian aid flights with UNICEF to the Central African Republic (2014), Jordan (2015), Mali (2017) and Yemen (2017).
In September 2018, we are heading to Chad in Central Africa with a plane full of emergency aid to give children in Chad a better future and hope for tomorrow.
