NORWEGIAN BOOKING BONANZA
Low-fare flights to Ireland, Scotland start at $65 today
Norwegian Air International will launch low-fare, nonstop flights between Providence and cities in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Ireland in June and July.
The Irish subsidiary of budget airline Norwegian Air will use Boeing’s new 737 MAX aircraft that will carry up to 189 passengers in a single economy class.
Today’s announcement follows long-awaited U.S. regulatory approval of the service in December, after a three-year wait during which U.S. airlines and unions complained Norwegian wanted to use its Irish subsidiary as a “flag of convenience” to undermine wage and labor standards.
Norwegian’s new routes from Providence will be the first yearround European flights for T.F. Green Airport. Service will start June 16 with four weekly flights to Edinburgh, Scotland, for a summer schedule that runs through Oct. 28, after which
Norwegian will revert to its winter schedule and twice-a-week service. Belfast flights will begin July 1, running twice a week during the summer only. Belfast lost its only direct U.S. air link in January, when United Airlines stopped daily service from Newark that had operated since 2005.
Norwegian’s Cork service also will launch July 1 with three flights per week in the summer and two flights per week in the winter. The airline will operate five summer flights per week to Dublin starting July 2 and will move to thrice-weekly flights during the winter. Its service to Shannon, Ireland, which starts July 3, will include two flights per week year-round.
Norwegian also will run three flights per week from Hartford’s Bradley International Airport to Edinburgh during the summer, and two flights per week during the winter.
“If this is a success, we will bring on more flights,” said Lars Sande, senior vice president of sales. That could mean additional frequencies and other European routes. The 737 MAX’s range opens up opportunities throughout western Europe, he said.
Norwegian is billing its new flights, which go on sale at 6 a.m. today, as the cheapest non-stop trans-Atlantic flights ever. Introductory fares will start at $65 one-way, including taxes. After that, the lowest starting oneway fare will be $99, but passengers can expect prices to average $300 to $350 roundtrip, Sande said. “We have the most efficient aircraft available for these kinds of routes, and that means that we are able to keep costs very low,” he said.
But passengers can expect to pay additional fees for checked luggage ($45 for the first bag, $50 for a second), meal service including alcoholic beverages ($30) and a reserved specific seat ($30). Or they can pay a $70 bundled fee for a checked bag, meal and specific seat.
“It’s a completely a la carte airline,” said analyst Henry Harteveldt, of Atmosphere Research Group. “Depending on what you choose to buy and how much they’re charging at the time, it could equal — and in some cases even exceed — the cost of the base airfare. The optional products are how airlines like Norwegian make money.”