T.F. Green in talks with Norwegian Air for Ireland flights

TALKS ARE UNDERWAY with European discount carrier Norwegian Air Shuttle ASA to bring flights to Ireland from T.F. Green Airport. / COURTESY R.I. AIRPORT CORP.
TALKS ARE UNDERWAY with European discount carrier Norwegian Air to bring flights to Ireland from T.F. Green Airport. / COURTESY R.I. AIRPORT CORP.

(Updated 4:24 p.m.)
WARWICK – R.I. Airport Corp. President and CEO Iftikhar Ahmad said talks are underway with European discount carrier Norwegian Air to offer flights to Ireland from T.F. Green Airport.
“We know that we are being considered,” Ahmad said in a telephone interview this week.
Ahmad said the service could begin next year. He said he has discussed with Norwegian why Rhode Island is a better place for the carrier to do business, citing the incentives it offers airlines, passenger accolades, airport awards and its lower cost structure. Ahmad also noted that the airport already can accommodate international service.
“We hope we can convince them,” Ahmad said. “We know if they were to start service from here it would be beneficial to them.”
Norwegian spokesman Anders Lindstrom wrote in an email that the airline plans to announce early next year which airport it will operate from and what destinations will be served, as well as the route frequency and timetable. Lindstrom said they are looking to offer introductory fares as low as $69 one way to Cork in Ireland, as well as potentially Shannon and Dublin.
In addition to T.F. Green, other New England airports Norwegian is negotiating with to launch its 737 transatlantic service include Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks, Conn., and Portsmouth International Airport in New Hampshire.
Lindstrom said Norwegian plans to recruit some 75 pilots and cabin crew and would base two 737 aircraft at the selected airport.
“However, this is just the initial stage of Norwegian’s 737 transatlantic operations. With 260 aircraft on order, our presence in the United States will continue to grow exponentially over the coming years. Norwegian is fully committed to the U.S. and already offers more transatlantic routes than any other European airline, and within a few years, we will offer more transatlantic flights than any other airline,” Lindstrom wrote.
Norwegian also flies from Logan International Airport in Boston, and its Boeing 787 Dreamliner operations will continue there, Lindstrom said.
A smaller airport is more suitable for the Boeing 737, he explained, adding it has approximately 100 fewer seats than a 787.
Even though a contract has not been signed, OSM Aviation already is advertising for flight attendants to be based in Providence to work onboard Norwegian’s 737-MAX fleet for its transatlantic routes.

T.F. Green recently lost its seasonal service to Frankfurt, Germany. Condor Airlines blamed increasing competition from low-cost carriers based out of Logan in Boston on the decision, an airport official has said.

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