- Cork and Shanon Boston flights cleared
- Three years to get the license
The US Department for Transportation granted an unconditional permit to Norwegian Air International to operate services between Ireland and the US.
The decision means that the airline can start operating the new routes from Cork and Shannon to Boston and the other new transatlantic routes that it has planned.
NAI applied for the permit almost three years ago, and the delay by the US Department for Transportation in granting the permit has been the subject of ongoing discussions between Irish, European and US authorities.
Norwegian originally planned to operate Cork-Boston 4w using a 186-seat B738. They promised a Cork-New York to follow and a Cork-Barcelona 4w feeder service.
The decision to grant the permit closely follows the formal launch by the European Commissioer Violeta Bulc of arbitration proceedings against the US under the terms of the EU-US Open Skies Agreement.
In a statement, the DOT described the NAI case as being “among the most novel and complex” it has ever undertaken.
“We have taken the necessary amount of time to review and consider the comments from a wide range of stakeholders. Regardless of our appreciation of the public policy arguments raised by opponents, we have been advised that the law and our bilateral obligations leave us no avenue to reject this application. Therefore, we have decided to finalise our tentative decision to grant NAI’s request for a foreign air carrier permit. Opponents raised a number of significant concerns regarding the applicant’s potential hiring and employment practices affecting its operations in US markets. In reaching our decision to grant NAI’s permit, we have taken into account the totality of the record regarding its application, including those changes to its hiring and employment practices that it has offered as a direct result of the difficult issues that have been raised during the course of this proceeding. We anticipate that they will be implemented, consistently with applicable laws. Opponents have also raised another novel and important argument that goes directly to a central legal feature of the Agreement. By arguing that NAI represents a flag of convenience, opponents lose sight of this key feature of the Agreement: that under the concept of a Community airline, any carrier may fly under the flag of any European Union country, as well as Norway or Iceland, as long as it is satisfactorily owned and controlled by citizens of those countries.”
Transport minister Shane Rpss said “I am very pleased that a decision has been made and that NAI as an EU airline licenced by the Irish aviation authorities will finally be allowed to avail of the rights available to all EU airlines under the EU-US Open Skies Agreement. This is good news for consumers on both sides of the Atlantic, and I now look forward to NAI confirming its plans for the new services it announced last year. The launch of those services, bringing additional capacity and the direct transatlantic connectivity into the region, will be a boost for Cork Airport and for Cork business and tourism, and I am sure that the services will be well supported by the people in Cork and the wider catchment area”.
Foreign Minister Charlie Flanagan said: “The Government strongly supports the Open Skies policy and this new travel option for travellers. I raised this application with the US authorities on a number of occasions, including with Secretary of State, Mr John Kerry, in Tipperary on 30 October last. This new route will strengthen Ireland’s links with Boston and New England, and represents a further significant boost to Cork Airport and the southern region. I look forward to NAI flights commencing between Cork and Boston at an early date. I also commend the commitment of Ireland’s Ambassador to the United States – Anne Anderson – and her Embassy colleagues, who worked assiduously in support of the granting of this licence. I am delighted to see that all of our efforts have borne fruit.”
Niall MacCarthy, Managing Director at Cork Airport said: “This is momentous news for air travellers on both sides of the Atlantic. It’s great news for Open Skies and for consumer choice and competition. I firmly believe this will permanently transform the transatlantic market in Ireland and further afield for the better. Norwegian will do for transatlantic travel what Ryanair has done for European travel, bringing lower fares, increased competition and growth to the overall market. There has been a tremendous amount of work undertaken to secure this route on both sides of the Atlantic and we must acknowledge the huge support received from political, business and local government stakeholders in Ireland, the EU and US. The final stages of the process have seen a significant contribution and support from the public too and I want to thank everyone who helped make this happen. These flights will help grow inbound tourism, give Cork Airport’s passengers greater choice, attract more investment to the region and improve social and cultural ties between Ireland and the US. We expect Boston bound flights to take off in coming months with New York flights beginning soon afterwards. Securing a transatlantic service for Ireland’s second largest airport has been an aspiration of ours for some time and Norwegian Air’s service will be welcomed by business and leisure travellers throughout the region.”
Dublin Airport Chief Executive Kevin Toland said he was delighted that the process to allow Norwegian to begin services from Cork had finally been completed. “DAA has been working closely with Cork Airport over many months to advance obtaining permission for Norwegian to operate transatlantic services and we also had great support for this new route both in Ireland and the United States.”
Conor Healy, CEO of Cork Chamber, added: “Transatlantic flights from Cork Airport has always been a top priority for businesses in Cork who will now see ease of doing business in the American market as new opportunities to attract business to Cork. These new flights will also unlock a whole new tourism market with economic benefits for all Ireland South, and we encourage all business and leisure users in the region to make full use of this excellent offering. Tonight’s announcement clears the way for Norwegian Air International to commence its transatlantic services and it is expected that tickets for the Cork – Boston route will go on sale in the near future.
- Listen here to Eoghan Corry speaking about the EU action on RTE’s News at One.
