Low-cost carrier Norwegian says its subsidiary Norwegian Air International has received “tentative approval to fly to the United States”.
The airline said that the US Department of Transportation has issued an order “proposing to grant a foreign carrier permit to Norwegian Air International”.
The granting of the permit would allow Norwegian to expand its flights to the US through its subsidiary, including the launch of a service between Boston and Cork.
Speaking at the Aviation Club in March, CEO Bjorn Kjos spoke of his frustration at the “ongoing challenges with the US Department of Transportation”, with foreign carrier permit applications having been filed with the DoT for over two years.
Commenting on the latest news Kjos said:
“A final approval, based on the Open Skies Agreement between the US and EU, will be win-win for consumers and the economy on both sides of the Atlantic.
“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.”
Last month Kjos also spoke of ambitious plans to base over 150 new aircraft at Gatwick airport should approval for a second runway be given (see news March 17).
Mark Caswell
