Direct Flights Between Cork and North America Announced
Cork Chamber welcomed the Norwegian Air’s Thursday announcement that it will offer direct flights between Cork Airport and Providence in Rhode Island, less than an hour’s drive from Boston, Massachusetts. New North American routes were also announced from Dublin, Belfast and Shannon airports.
“The opening of new flights between Cork and Boston, to be followed later by New York, creates significant new opportunities for tourism in the region,” Cork Chamber CEO Conor Healy said. “Situated at the start of both the Wild Atlantic Way and Ireland’s Ancient East while also proudly known as the Food Capital of Ireland, Cork offers US visitors varied and memorable experiences and we look forward to welcoming many more guests from Boston and the US East Coast in the years to come.
“Direct air access to the US has always been a business priority for our members given Cork’s strong US multinational presence and the strength of our indigenous businesses exporting to the American market. In a recent survey undertaken by Cork Chamber assessing our members’ most desired air routes, the US came out as the number one desired destination. With the opening of transatlantic air connectivity through Norwegian, businesses throughout Cork and Munster will now find it easier to diversify their markets and sustain and grow local jobs into the future.”
Dublin Airport also welcomed the announcement, noting Norwegian’s new direct transatlantic services to Stewart International Airport in New York state and to Providence, Rhode Island.
“We are delighted that Norwegian will start services to the east coast of the US this summer.,” Dublin Airport Managing Director Vincent Harrison said. “Transatlantic traffic has tripled at Dublin Airport since 2016 and these two new routes from Norwegian mean that 19 new transatlantic services have been added to our route network since 2011.”
These new transatlantic routes will be operated by Norwegian Air International, Norwegian’s Irish subsidiary, and will predominantly use U.S.-based crew from the two new crew bases, as well as crew from the new Edinburgh base in the UK. Norwegian is the European launch customer of the Boeing 737-MAX, a state-of-the-art new aircraft, which offers a longer range and greater seat capacity.
Tourism Ireland’s Alison Metcalfe said: “Today’s announcement is more good news for Irish tourism from the United States, following a record year in 2016 when an estimated 1.4 million American travelers visited Ireland, and augurs well for prospects for tourism from the US to Ireland in 2017. These flights will certainly help boost tourism from the US and offer more choice for potential travelers living in the Northeast. As an island, the importance of convenient, non-stop flights cannot be overstated – they are critical to achieving growth in inbound tourism.”
Service to Belfast from Stewart International Airport will be thrice weekly during summer and twice weekly during winter as of July 1; twice weekly from Providence as of July 2 during summer. Days of operations will change between the summer 2017 and the winter 2017/2018 winter season.
Service to Dublin from Stewart International Airport begins on July 1 with daily flights during the summer and thrice weekly during the winter seasons; and from Providence, flights will operate five weekly flights starting July 2 during the summer and thrice weekly during winter. Days of operations from Providence will change between the summer 2017 and the winter 2017/2018 winter season.
Service to Shannon from Stewart International Airport will begin on July 2 with twice-weekly flights; and from Providence on July 3 with twice-weekly flights. Days of operations will change between the summer 2017 and the winter 2017/2018 winter season.
Year-round service to Cork from Providence will start on July 1 with three weekly flights during summer and a twice-weekly service during winter season. Days of operations will change between the summer 2017 and the winter 2017/2018 winter season.
