Cheap Cork to Boston flights ‘to launch this year’
The Ireland-based arm of Norwegian Air has been granted tentative approval from the US to operate low-cost transatlantic flights.
The approval process had been held up by strong opposition from labour unions and US airlines claiming the airline established a base in Ireland simply to circumvent employment laws.
After Norwegian said it would only employ US and European-based crew on flights, regulators at the Department of Transportation approved the application.
The US transport department said there was no legal argument to deny the application based on current rules.
“Norwegian Air International appears to meet DOT’s normal standards for award of a permit and that there appears to be no legal basis to deny NAI’s application,” a DOT statement said.
Still, DOT has opened up a three-week public consultation period to take comments before it will officially give the green light.
Norwegian CEO Bjorn Kjos said: “It will allow Norwegian to expand our US. operations. Our continued presence in the US will create thousands of jobs and generate tens of millions of dollars of economic activity for the Group’s US destinations.”
If it receives final approval NAI expects to start flying from Cork to Boston by the year-end.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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