Bjørn Kjos

Norwegian's international expansion strategy substantially increased its fleet, commitments and debt. In early 2019, the airline launched an underwritten NOK 3 billion rights issue and announced a shift from growth towards profitability; Kjos left his post a few months later.

State of the evidence

debt, losses and fundraising documented

Legal status — source text

no personal offence; corporate financial crisis

Attribution

strategic responsibility until Kjos's resignation in July 2019; subsequent restructurings are not automatically attributed to him

Following restructuring of employment contracts within the group, pilots and cabin crew claimed that Norwegian Air Shuttle remained their actual employer. In 2018, the Supreme Court largely rejected this argument but found that labour had been unlawfully supplied for a certain period.

State of the evidence

Norwegian Supreme Court judgment documented

Legal status — source text

Norwegian largely prevailed on employer classification, but the Court identified a period of unlawful labour supply

Attribution

corporate responsibility under Kjos; no personal criminal conviction

The use of crews based particularly in Thailand and structures outside Norway prompted recurring allegations of social dumping. Kjos defended the application of local conditions and strongly criticised politicians seeking to protect European labour standards more extensively.

State of the evidence

trade union and political controversy documented

Legal status — source text

no decision establishing a personal offence by Kjos

Attribution

Kjos personally defended the model and rejected the term social dumping

Norwegian Air International's application for US authorisation, as an Irish-registered airline, prompted years of opposition from unions and airlines accusing it of using a flag of convenience to circumvent labour standards. Kjos rejected those allegations.

State of the evidence

US regulatory proceedings and union opposition documented

Legal status — source text

the US Department of Transportation ultimately granted authorisation

Attribution

management responsibility for the Irish subsidiary strategy

The 2015 pilots' strike paralysed a substantial part of Norwegian for eleven days. The central dispute concerned, among other things, the legal relationship with the parent company, employment guarantees and the organisation of subsidiaries.

State of the evidence

eleven-day strike and settlement documented

Legal status — source text

collective dispute settled by agreement

Attribution

direct responsibility of Kjos as CEO and central signatory to the agreement

Norwegian's long-haul launch using Boeing 787 aircraft was marked by hundreds of delays and repeated use of replacement aircraft. Kjos subsequently acknowledged that he should have waited for more aircraft before launching a fixed schedule.

State of the evidence

delays and Kjos's statements documented

Legal status — source text

no personal criminal proceedings

Attribution

strategic management responsibility; a substantial proportion of the problems originated with Boeing aircraft

During a cabin crew dispute, a Norwegian message warning that certain bases might close if a strike paralysed operations was denounced by unions as a threat. The dispute formed part of a restructuring of bases and employment.

State of the evidence

industrial dispute and internal communications documented

Legal status — source text

no personal criminal proceedings

Attribution

management responsibility; wording disputed by unions

Roger Handeland, a union representative and technician, was summoned to a meeting ahead of possible termination after publicly criticising Dreamliner operations. The case raised concerns about management's tolerance of trade union speech.

State of the evidence

disciplinary meeting summons documented

Legal status — source text

no dismissal: employee retained his position after the meeting

Attribution

company management decision under Kjos

Norwegian faced strong criticism for using pilots engaged through agencies and sometimes structured as self-employed contractors. Trade unions alleged that this arrangement reduced employer obligations and social contributions; the tax authorities announced checks.

State of the evidence

journalistic investigation, industrial dispute and tax review documented

Legal status — source text

no personal conviction of Kjos identified

Attribution

management responsibility for Norwegian's employment model; pilots' individual tax obligations remain separate