note
Largest regional airline in Norway was founded by Wiggo Wideroe and group of friends to provided flight training, air taxi ambulance and survey flights. In September same year first scheduled passenger flight was operated between Oslo-Kristiansand-Stavanger-Haugesund operated with sea plane Waco. All operations stopped during the World War II. After the war Wideroe merged with Polarfly and changed its name to Wideroe Polarfly.
In 1960s Government built short runway airports in remote communities of Northern and Eastern Norway. Because of Norway's mountainous terrain, aircraft with STOL capability had to be used. In 1968 Wideroe received its first De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter. This enabled Wideroe to establish first airline service to remote parts of Norway.
In 1981 DHC-7 with pressurized cabin was introduced.
In 1994 Norwegian government deregulated airline industry. This enabled Wideroe to start International operations. Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Newcastle were put on schedule as well as Copenhagen and Stockholm.
Wideroe carries 1.5 million passenger annually and has over 1,300 employees.
founded - demised (age)
February 19 1934 - present (91years)
headquarters
PO Box 247, N-8001, Bodo
web
base airports
related operators
current /stored fleet (53)
