Low-cost, long-haul carrier Norwegian Air has said it will increase flights from Irish airports next summer by more than a third — while also confirming Cork’s first transatlantic flights to the US, which had been in doubt, would return.

Cork Airport has welcomed today’s announcement that Norwegian’s Cork to Boston Providence service is available to book for summer 2019.

The US is closing in on UK visitors in terms of Cork tourist numbers, industry stakeholders have said — as it was revealed 31,000 have used the first ever transatlantic flights between Cork and the US East Coast in the past year.

Bookings open today with the first flights taking off next March.

Shares in low-cost, long-haul airline Norwegian fell 9% yesterday after it rejected two takeover bids from Aer Lingus and British Airways owner IAG.

Low-cost airline Norwegian has received further expressions of interest after British Airways owner IAG acquired a 4.6% stake.

Potential plans by Aer Lingus-owner IAG to gobble up Norwegian Air Shuttle is bad news for Ireland’s consumers less than three years after the Government sold its 25% stake in the Irish airline, the Consumers’ Association of Ireland has said.

Aer Lingus and British Airways owner International Airlines Group (IAG) has confirmed that it is exploring a potential acquisition of low-cost carrier Norwegian Air Shuttle.

Pádraig Hoare and Richard Weiss

Low-cost, long-haul airline Norwegian could face two inquiries into its decision to cancel winter flights from Cork and Shannon Airports to the US, just nine months after launching a year-round service.

Norwegian has said its Irish expansion is just getting started and that it is in a much better position for growth this year, despite the airline posting a larger loss than expected in the past three months.

Norwegian Airlines is expanding its transatlantic flights out of Dublin and Shannon but said it has not made a decision yet on the viability of a Cork-New York route.

Norwegian already has 130 aircraft, with more than 260 on order.

Last week, the US Department of Transport gave approval to low cost airline Norwegian Air Shuttle to operate freely between the UK and the US, writes Joe Gill.

Low fares airlines Ryanair and Norwegian have said talks are ongoing regarding a tie-up that would allow passengers transfer on connecting flights between Europe and the US.

The granddaughter of legendary Antarctic explorer Tom Crean believes he would probably wonder what all the fuss is about after Norwegian airlines named him their first Irish ‘tailfin hero’.

The head of one of Europe’s largest low-fares airlines has promised to shake up the Irish transatlantic market after launching 17 ultra- low-fares flights from Ireland to the US — including the first direct transatlantic route from Cork Airport.

ANYONE old enough to remember rickets, black and white TV and Jimmy O’Dea may also remember that an air ticket to London cost multiples of an average weekly wage and a transatlantic air ticket was on a par with the price of a new Ford Popular. Air travel was not a practical option for the great majority of people.

What should have been a celebration for the regions has been put in the shade by Norwegian revealing its flights to the US from Dublin, writes Alan Kelly TD.

Eoin English looks at why it was such a struggle to convince some of the stakeholders that transatlantic flights to and from Cork would be a good deal all round.

Norwegian Air will begin flights this summer from Cork, Shannon and Dublin to smaller US airports in the greater New York, Boston and New England areas with fares starting from €69.

Details of the first direct transatlantic flights from Cork to the US will be unveiled today, with special one-way introductory offers of €69 expected.

Ryanair is finalising deals with two long-haul carriers to create a “seamless” transfer experience, the budget airline has announced.

The first transatlantic flights from Cork Airport are a step closer. The Irish airline planning the services has secured technical certification for the aircraft on the routes.

Anders Behring Breivik, who killed 77 people in bomb and gun attacks in 2011, is set to enter the witness box on the second day of his human rights case against the Norwegian government.

The airline planning to launch the first transatlantic flights from Cork has urged US authorities to make a decision on its licence application and clear its ambitious expansion plans for take-off.

Cork Airport has confirmed that Norwegian is to launch the city's first ever scheduled transatlantic services.

It's all part of a drinking awareness campaign.