THE first transatlantic flights from Cork Airport will be launched next year with long-haul services to Boston.
Europe’s third largest low-cost airline Norwegian today announced plans for new direct services stateside with plans to also include flights from the rebel county to New York from 2017.
The Boston service will begin next May, with four-five flights scheduled per week.
Cork Airport Managing Director Niall MacCarthy said: “We’re delighted that Norwegian will operate Cork Airport’s first transatlantic service.”
“We’re sure there will be strong demand for these new transatlantic services from both business and leisure passengers,” he added.
The new routes will be operated under Norwegian’s Irish subsidiary Norwegian Air International Ltd (NAI) and will form part of the airline’s plans for further expansion in Britain and Ireland.
Norwegian chief executive Bjorn Kjos said: “We are delighted to offer a long-awaited service from the US to Cork and the southern parts of Ireland which will create huge business, leisure and tourism opportunities.”
But he warned that the plans are subject to approval from the US Department of Transport.
"This is only the beginning of our plans for new routes in Ireland but our expansion relies on the US Department of Transport finally approving Norwegian Air International’s application for a foreign carrier permit," he said.
A new Cork to Barcelona route will also be launched next May.
