Norwegian describes 2017 as ”its biggest year ever” detailing plans to add new aircraft to its fleet, exclusive new routes, and lower fares on direct low-cost transatlantic services from the UK.
- Norwegian carried more than 4.5 million passengers from London, Manchester, Edinburgh, and Birmingham airports last year.
- The airline launched more than 10 new routes from the UK, including routes to Boston, Oakland-San Francisco and Las Vegas
- Norwegian flew more than four million passengers to and from Gatwick for the first time in a single year.
Europe’s third-largest low-cost carrier will add nine new Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft to its fleet and launch Boeing’s latest aircraft, the Boeing 737 MAX.
Norwegian plans to continue its long-haul expansion with new low-cost routes to other global markets and destinations, beyond the US, later this year.
“Norwegian has seen rapid UK growth and this year will be no different. Through exciting new routes and even more low-cost USA flights at affordable fares, we will enhance the travel choices for UK consumers at a time when cost and great value are more important than ever. With more new aircraft servicing brand new routes we will continue delivering and expanding upon our high quality service in the skies,” says Thomas Ramdahl, Chief Commercial Officer at Norwegian.
Boeing 737 MAX
The airline plans new transatlantic routes from more UK cities using Boeing’s newest aircraft the Boeing 737 MAX.
Norwegian will become the first European airline to fly Boeing’s newest aircraft model this summer which the airline claims will “kickstart a new era in transatlantic travel.”
These single aisle aircraft can fly longer distances, allowing Norwegian to add “never before seen routes” from Europe to the East coast of the US with low fares.
Transatlantic Expansion from UK
Norwegian plans to announce a series of transatlantic routes from UK cities to the US east coast early in 2017.
This summer, Norwegian will expand its USA flights by 55% to offer 34 direct flights per week from Gatwick.
This includes double daily services to New York and a daily service to Los Angeles in addition to increases on the popular Oakland-San Francisco, Orlando and Ft. Lauderdale routes.
More Dreamliners Coming
Norwegian’s first Boeing 787-9 aircraft arrived at Gatwick in 2016, and nine more 787-9 Dreamliners landing in Norwegian’s fleet this year.
These state-of-the-art aircraft will continue servicing direct affordable flights to the USA, offering all economy and Premium passengers’ inflight entertainment and reduced effects of jet lag.
Norwegian is Hiring
Given expansion plans in the UK, and with more than 30 new aircraft entering the fleet, Norwegian is hiring more pilots and cabin crew.
The airline says each aircraft will create up to 23 pilot jobs and 70 cabin crew roles. Details of these job opportunities can be found on http://careers.norwegian.com/
More On Norwegian in the UK
Norwegian first launched UK flights in 2003 and now operates from London Gatwick, Edinburgh, Birmingham and Manchester Airports to more than 40 destinations worldwide.
Norwegian is the third largest airline at London Gatwick, with 3.9 million yearly passengers, and with more than 700 pilots, cabin crew and staff working from its Gatwick base.
In 2014, Norwegian introduced the UK’s first low-cost, long haul flights to the U.S. – the airline now flies to 8 U.S destinations.
Norwegian is the only airline to offer free inflight WiFi on UK flights to more than 30 European destinations.
The airline has one of the youngest aircraft fleets in the world with an average age of 3.6 years, including next-generation Boeing 787 Dreamliners and Boeing 737-800s.