Battered low-charge carrier Norwegian has reported virtually all of its fleet will likely remain grounded until eventually 2021.

The news will come as the airline seeks to persuade shareholders to accept a government-backed rescue program that will wipe out most other buyers.

Norwegian mentioned it expects bondholders, aircraft lessors and shareholders to choose a hit in purchase for the airline to obtain all over £230 million in state bailout money.

Presently just seven of a fleet of 147 planes are operating, mostly on point out-subsidised domestic flights in Norway and largely for critical cargo.

The airline, plagued by money owed right after a long time of more than-expansion, unfortunate it was preparing for a “New Norwegian” to emerge.

The new carrier would concentration on key worthwhile routes, jettisoning extended-haul routes to secondary airports, and applying a fleet up to a 3rd lesser than formerly planned.

Bondholders will later this 7 days determine whether to settle for the system and enable the debt to be transformed into fairness, a vital shift if Norwegian is to acquire accessibility to condition resources.

Aircraft lessors will also be requested to consider equity in the company, rather than pursue debts.

The airline is searching to decrease its obligations on leasing planes by £400 million.

Shareholders will vote on the proposal at an crisis general conference on Could 4th.

If the system is permitted, new shares will be issued on May perhaps 11th, which will reduce the value of latest shares by yet another 95 for each cent.

The provider grounded its fleet in mid-March thanks to coronavirus travel restrictions, and has quickly laid off far more than 80 for every cent of its workforce.