Norwegian launches three US routes from Gatwick

Norwegian has announced plans to launch three new long-haul routes from London Gatwick to New York, Los Angeles and Fort Lauderdale in summer 2014.

The carrier continues its international expansion as it takes delivery of more 787 Dreamliner aircraft.

Twice weekly flights to LAX will launch on July 2; services to JFK will run three times a week from July 3; and the route to FLL will operate twice a week from July 4.

The airline is also launching five new European routes and increasing frequencies on existing ones, following the success of services launched from Gatwick earlier this year.

In addition to the long-haul routes, Norwegian will add Santorini, Corfu, Sicily, Cyprus and Budapest to its Gatwick destinations.

Santorini (JTR), Catania, Sicily (CTA), and Cyprus (LCA) will each receive one flight a week from April 5.

One flight a week will operate to CFU from July 19, while Norwegian will operate three weekly flights to BUD from March 30.

It will also increase frequencies to existing destinations Malaga, Ibiza, Split, Dubrovnik, Majorca, Faro, Tenerife, Copenhagen and Barcelona.

Norwegian’s CEO, Bjørn Kjos, commented: “There’s great demand for high quality flights at a low fare between the UK and the US, particularly to and from London Gatwick, where no other airline currently offers these routes.

“Launching long-haul routes between London Gatwick and the United States is also an important part of our strategy to expand internationally and get a stronger foothold in markets outside Scandinavia.”

Stewart Wingate, Gatwick’s CEO, called the announcement a “significant industry game-changer”, adding: “This is one of the most exciting route developments since Gatwick’s change of ownership four years ago and shows the benefit of Gatwick competing with Heathrow on routes, price and service.”

Norwegian currently offers 320 weekly flights and 25 routes from the airport.