Easier connections at Oslo Airport
Yesterday marked the start of the "Connecting Norway" trial project at Oslo Airport. Passengers arriving from abroad with a connecting flight in Norway will no longer have to collect their luggage in the baggage hall and recheck their bags. Minister of Transport and Communications Ketil Solvik-Olsen visited the airport today to check out the new system.
Passengers who are covered by the scheme can now go directly from the aircraft to the new customs area near the current Duty Free shop in the international departures hall. After clearing customs, passengers will be led straight to the domestic departures hall and continue on to their final destination in Norway, where they can collect their bags on arrival.
"This is a trial scheme that initially applies to passengers travelling via Oslo Airport with SAS, Norwegian or Widerøe and all arrivals from Milan. Additional flights and airlines will gradually be included," says Managing Director Øyvind Hasaas, adding:
"We are certainly pleased to launch Connecting Norway. We believe that it will be well received by passengers, and we are confident that the scheme will make the journey through Oslo Airport easier.”
Visit from the Ministry of Transportation
The Government decided to introduce "Connecting Norway" at Oslo Airport back in June 2014. Today, Minister of Transport and Communications Ketil Solvik-Olsen was on hand to witness how the scheme worked when SAS flight SK4718 arrived from Milan.
"We are now making it easier for international passengers with stop-overs at Oslo Airport en route to other destinations in Norway. Simplified transfer makes for speedier, less complicated travel, and also makes Oslo Airport a more attractive airport for the airlines. Last year, the Government adopted the necessary measures to make the scheme a reality. That is why it is so great to see that everything is in place and being used."
Who can use Connecting Norway?
Initially, the scheme applies to passengers travelling via Oslo Airport with SAS, Norwegian or Widerøe and arrivals from Milan. More flights and airlines will gradually be included.
The scheme only applies to passengers travelling with through tickets. That means the luggage tag is marked with the final destination and not with "OSL" when the passenger checks in abroad.