A new route connecting Oslo with Longyearbyen, on the Arctic Archipelago of Svalbard has been launched by Norwegian, Scandinavia’s low fares airline. Svalbard is a group of islands midway between Norway and  the North Pole in the Arctic Ocean.

The route will be served twice weekly and will offer connections from many European destinations. Inaugural flight is the 27th of March 2008.

“It is with great pleasure that we now add Svalbard to our already extensive domestic network. This will enable people to experience great arctic nature to affordable prices. Svalbard has something to offer everyone and will certainly give the visitor memories for life. It is an archipelago with very limited human interference and strict governance from the authorities will keep it this way for time to come. In fact the number of Polar Bears outnumbers the total inhabitants, but all activities on the islands are professionally managed so that everything is conducted in a safe and eco friendly manner”, says Daniel Skjeldam, Director of Network and Revenue in Norwegian.