Norwegian Air International applied to the Canadian Transportation Agency for an exemption to permit it to sell, cause to be sold or publicly offer for sale in Canada a scheduled international service between member states of the European Community and Canada, in the absence of a licence.

Norwegian indicates that it intends to commence commercial activities in Canada on 23 July 2018, and that it is in the process of obtaining a Canadian aviation document from Transport Canada, which is required to complete the licence application.

The applicant states that the exemption from the application of section 59 is sought to permit the launch of this new low-cost long haul service from Europe to North America.

The CTA notes that Transport Canada advises that it expects that the applicant will be issued a CAD in time for the proposed start-up date.

Accordingly, the CTA is satisfied that there is a high probability that the licence will issue prior to the intended start-up date on 23 July 2018.