Perennial favourite destinations such as Turkey and Tunisia are beginning to become popular with Irish holidaymakers once more as the threat of terrorism has receded.

Norwegian Air could be sold to IAG or another bidder if the price is right, but offers made so far have been too low, according to the budget carrier’s top office holders.

Next month, scheduled air services between Dublin and Hong Kong take flight. The first direct service between Ireland and the Asian mainland, via Cathay Pacific, underlines the growing trade links with the Far East, even as Norwegian Air axes its Cork to Providence winter schedule service, just six months after its high-profile launch.

Cork will have more transatlantic flights to US destinations like New York in the future as more efficient aircraft become prevalent, according to Fáilte Ireland’s chairman.

Norwegian Air has said its Irish operations will not be affected despite the airline saying it would reduce costs next year compared with this year. 

Norwegian Air has said it is recruiting pilots to be based in Dublin in order to “support its transatlantic operations as well as future growth in Ireland”.

The head of the airline which has launched a raft of low-fares transatlantic flights from Ireland — including Cork Airport’s first scheduled direct service to the US — has given a “personal guarantee” that they are “here to stay”.

Holidaymakers can book return flights to the US for less than €190 as part of Norwegian Air’s 6,000-seat sale.

Norwegian Air said it remains confident that a deal can be struck with Ryanair or another airline to transport passengers from continental Europe to the US using the low-fare model.

Passengers on Norwegian Airline’s new low-fares transatlantic flights from Ireland will be able to avail of US preclearance facilities at Dublin and Shannon airports. But Cork Airport said its lack of such facilities shouldn’t be an issue.

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Low-fares airline Norwegian is insisting that the “door remains open” to a potential Cork-New York route.

Norwegian Air boss Bjorn Kjos tells reporter Pádraig Hoare that Cork is strategically important and insists the airline has not abandoned plans for its Cork to New York route.

The boss of Norwegian Air has cast doubt on the possibility of a Cork to New York route, saying it is currently not feasible with the aircraft at hand.

Shots fired. And returned.

Deputy Kelly told the Public Accounts Committee he believed the Dublin Airport Authority had secured the flights to build the case for a third terminal.

Norwegian Air says that it remains fully committed to starting Cork flights to the US in July despite its share price dropping sharply on the back of rising costs for its expanding transatlantic fleet.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has said the political block of Norwegian Air's longstanding bid to fly trans-Atlantic from Cork Airport appears to have lifted, writes Daniel McConnell, Political editor.