Norwegian launching Gatwick routes to Chicago and Austin
Norwegian has announced two new US routes from London Gatwick to Chicago and Austin, Texas, as the airline celebrates the third anniversary since it first launched low-cost long-haul services from Gatwick.
In July 2014, Norwegian launched its first low-cost long-haul flights from London Gatwick to three US cities – in just three years, Norwegian has grown to serve 13 global long-haul destinations from Gatwick, including nine US cities, Singapore and Buenos Aires. Over 1.5 million UK passengers have now flown low-cost long-haul with Norwegian since July 2014 and with the new routes announced today, the rapid growth will also see Norwegian overtake other airlines to become the second largest long-haul operator at Gatwick.
The new routes from London Gatwick to Chicago and Austin will start from March 2018 and will be served by new Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
Norwegian CEO Bjorn Kjos said: “Once again we have put the UK at the heart of our ambitious expansion plans, with affordable fares to another two exciting US destinations. As America’s third biggest city, Chicago is perfect addition to our growing networks while Austin has also become a major hub for leisure and business travel so we are delighted to offer passengers more choice and lower fares to these vibrant cities.
“Many people said low-cost long-haul would never work but three years, 13 routes and 1.5 million UK passengers later and Norwegian has shown there is huge demand for more affordable long-haul travel.”
Stewart Wingate, Gatwick CEO, said: “These new flights are yet more proof that the low cost long haul revolution is here to stay as Norwegian and Gatwick’s long haul networks reach into all four corners of the globe. Norwegian now offers 13 long-haul routes from Gatwick to destinations across the US and also to South America and south east Asia.
“The addition of new flights to Chicago and Austin also means that Gatwick’s long haul network breaks yet another world record as we now offer 62 long haul routes – more than any other single runway airport in the world - and the fifth largest network of any airport in Europe.”
Separately today, Norwegian also announced new routes from Paris to Boston and Oakland, as well as increased flights on the existing routes from Paris to New York and LA.
Norwegian carries more than five million UK passengers each year from five UK airports, to over 50 global destinations.
Earlier this week it was announced that Norwegian has been awarded the ‘World's best low-cost long-haul airline’ for three consecutive years at the SkyTrax World Airline Awards.