Low-cost carrier Norwegian has announced a number of transatlantic route suspensions, blaming lower demand during the “quieter winter season”.
Flights from Cork, Edinburgh and Shannon to Providence airport (located around 50 miles south of Boston) will be suspended from October, as will the airline’s route between Belfast and Stewart International airport (located around 70 miles north of New York).
The carrier’s flights between Belfast and Providence will also not operate over the winter months, although Business Traveller understands this was always intended as a summer-only route.
The move follows Norwegian’s suspension of flights between Edinburgh and Bradley International airport in Hartford last month.
According to a report by The Scotsman earlier this week, Norwegian has cited Air Passenger Duty levels in Scotland as a reason for the route suspensions from Edinburgh, saying that “Flights from Scotland continue to bear the full brunt of the UK’s APD which has demonstrably been dampening demand, particularly in the quieter winter months”.
“We therefore urge the Scottish Government to quickly resurrect plans for a reduction in air passenger taxes which could re-open the door to more flights and lower fares for passengers and a boost to Scotland’s connectivity,” the airline continued.
There is some good news however – flights between Shannon and Stewart International will double from two to four services per week this winter. The carrier has also doubled flights from Dublin to the New York area airport for this summer.
Norwegian said it would continue to assess transatlantic route performance ahead of confirming route schedules for next summer.
The carrier launched its flights from Ireland and Scotland to the US East Coast last summer, following the delivery of new Boeing B737 Max aircraft.
