Norwegian Long Haul (Oslo Gardermoen) will not have to ground its B787-8 fleet this Christmas after the Norwegian civil aviation authority (Luftfartstilsynet) extended a temporary dispensation allowing the airline to operate its long haul flights under its Norwegian AOC to April 1, 2014. In light of this development, Norwegian daily, Dagens Næringsliv, says local rival SAS Scandinavian Airlines (SK, Copenhagen Kastrup) intends to contest the Luftfartstilsynet's decision in court. Originally granted until December 23, the dispensation was to allow Norwegian time to acquire its Irish Air Operators Certificate (AOC). However, the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) has continued to dither in its certificate issuance, insisting that the airline had failed to supply it with adequate information regarding its flight operation manuals among other reasons. Luftfartstilsynet says it is in constant touch with the Irish, who thus far, have been unable to name a precise date and time for the issuance to Norwegian of its permanent AOC.