Svein Harald Øygard, chairman of Norwegian Air Shuttle, has informed the company’s board of directors that he wishes to resign with immediate effect.
An extraordinary general meeting will be held on November 20, during which a vote will be taken on the election of Dag Mejdell as Øygard’s successor.
Øygard’s resignation comes only one week after Norwegian posted its highest quarterly profit in history.
In the third quarter, the group delivered an operating profit (EBIT) of NOK 3bn ($300 million), with an operating margin of 25%.
Profit before tax (EBT) was NOK 2.9bn ($290 million) - another quarterly record - and the group’s liquidity position was down from NOK 13.8bn ($1.38bn) to NOK 10.5bn ($1.5bn), due to to the impact of bond repayments and the payment of its inaugural dividend.
During the quarter, Norwegian exercised an option to purchase an additional 30 Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft.
The Norwegian fleet was comprised of 95 aircraft at quarter-end, including 33 latest-technology 737 MAX 8.
Widerøe, the group’s low-cost subsidiary, had a fleet of 51 aircraft at quarter-end.