Norwegian acquires 50 percent of OSM Aviation

Norway’s OSM Aviation has grown over two years into a leading international specialist in airline crew management. A 50 per cent shareholding in the company has now been acquired by the Norwegian aviation group, adding further vigour to this global commitment.

“We’ve met a fantastic response from both airlines and the many people around the world who want to join us as pilots and cabin crew,” says Espen Høiby, CEO of OSM Aviation.

“Our Norwegian model, with the offer of permanent employment and competitive pay and conditions, has been well received. Staff get security, and the airlines obtain qualified crew and cut costs by letting us handle personnel administration.”

OSM Aviation already employs 2 000 pilots and cabin crew in 14 countries, and currently serves nine airlines. A further 1 000 personnel are due to be recruited over the coming six months.

CEO Krister Aarnio at Norwegian Air Resources, a member of the Norwegian group, adds: “We’ve collaborated well with OSM Aviation since 2013, and our experience from this partnership has been very good.

“A growing number of large airlines are opting to collaborate with crew management players. OSM Aviation has quickly become established as a serious and qualified participant in this market and, by unifying our resources, we want to help give this success a further boost internationally.”

OSM Aviation already ranks as a substantial supplier of services to Norwegian in a number of markets, including Spain, the UK and the USA. This collaboration will continue unchanged. The new partnership will have no significance for the employment terms of pilots and cabin personnel working for either Norwegian or OSM Aviation.

“Employing air crew through companies with specialist expertise is the future for international aviation,” says Høiby. “The market is growing fast, and thousands of new jobs will now be created.

“This is the segment we’ve positioned ourselves within in order to take a leading role. That’ll be done by offering permanent employment and competitive local terms to qualified pilots and cabin crew.”

Norway has been a pioneer in establishing well-ordered employment terms, and OSM Aviation remains firmly rooted in Norwegian values for its international operations. This means in part that the company places emphasis on collaboration with local unions as well as on open and orderly relations with airlines, employees and regulators.

The company secures good terms for its employees while ensuring that airlines acquire capacity, expertise and quality. Where the consumer is concerned, that means a good and secure travel experience at a competitive price.

OSM Aviation offers its services to airlines worldwide. In 2015, its second full year of operation, the company’s turnover will be about NOK 850 million. The agreement on Norwegian’s acquisition of a 50 per cent shareholding is conditional on EU approval, which is expected to be clarified by the end of the first quarter of 2016. This deal also means that OSM Aviation will become a 49-per-cent shareholder from 1 July 2016 in Norwegian Air Resources subsidiaries in Spain, Finland and the UK.

For more information: https://osmaviation.com/
Strandveien 50, 1366 Lysaker (Oslo), Norway.