$69 Flights From U.S. To Europe

Kjos proposed new routes between Edinburgh and New York’s Westchester County Airport, and added that by using airports with cheaper fees, flyers could save around $200 on a return flight across the Atlantic.

The proposal is part of Norwegian Air’s plans to cut prices and take a larger share from traditional airlines that dominate trans-Atlantic flights.

To make up a few of the difference, Norwegian is targeting smaller airports in the US, like Bradley global Airport in Connecticut, where there’s less competition.

Average prices on such routes are likely to be closer to $300 round trip, Mr Kjos said.

“I think you will see a lot to that effect within five years’ time”, Kjos said. “What will happen to [Lufthansa] when everyone starts to fly direct?” In fact, the airline claims that they will be able to offer $69 one-way flights from the U.S.to Europe by 2017. The planned tickets would cost about $15.

“Our idea is – especially when we get the Max in 2017 – setting up networks from most of the west coast of Europe to Boston”, Kjos said, referring to 100 fuel-efficient Boeing 737 MAX single-aisle planes that Norwegian has ordered.

The planes are equipped to cruise over the Atlantic but are smaller than most jets which now make the journey, making them a better size for smaller airports such as Birmingham.

Flights could be leaving from Edinburgh in the United Kingdom and Bergen in Norway as early as 2017, and could cost as little as $69.

Norwegian Air hopes to offer non-stop flights, however passengers may be put off by the thought of arriving in minor airports.

Regulators will have to agree to set up customs stations at U.S. regional airports to handle worldwide traffic, although Mr Kjos said he was confident this could be arranged. Wow Air offered one-way tickets from Boston to Paris for $99 back in March.

Norwegian Air says that instead of offering multiple flights to hundreds of destinations in the U.S. and Europe, it will focus on “nonstop service to small cities that straddle the Atlantic more common, which keeps costs low”. Then you might know the feeling of having your fanciful hopes dashed by exorbitant airfare costs.