Though most avid travelers have already heard of Norwegian Airlines, that new. budget-priced, trans-Atlantic carrier, they haven't heard the most of it. Seemingly every week, Norwegian is announcing new initiatives that make it an ever-larger player in the world of aviation. The latest announcement: a new "base" in Rome, Italy, that will give Norwegian numerous new low-priced itineraries to offer to international tourists.
It's important to realize that Norwegian is no new start-up. It has been flying within Europe for 22 years, and is currently the third largest cut-rate carrier of that continent. Financed and supported by the wealth of Norway (the richest European country), Norwegian is constantly upgrading its fleet, and has recently placed an order for an unprecedented number of new, modern, inter-continental planes.
What's new about Norwegian is its recent decision to fly from the United States to Europe, and its subsequent expansion of the low-cost trans-Atlantic services it offers. Currently, Norwegian flies from New York, Boston, Baltimore, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and San Francisco/Oakland to at least a dozen European gateways, of which London and the Scandinavian capitals are its primary destinations To London, it currently charges as little as $600, round-trip between New York and the British capital, including all taxes and fees, but not including luggage charges and snacks or meals served en route. That price, nevertheless, is several hundreds of dollars less than the standard carriers charge, and Norwegian is therefore a lifesaver for American wanting to enjoy a European vacation for the lowest possible price.
Norwegian has also recently begun flying, several times a week, from New York, Boston and Baltimore to the island of Guadeloupe in the French West Indies, this time for as little as $79 each way. That Caribbean service has become so popular that Norwegian has announced it will continue flying there until the end of April--an extension of more than a month from previous plans. Indeed, bookings for its Caribbean flights have been so strong that it would have operated the service year around, except for the fact that it doesn't have enough airplanes to operate such a schedule. Next year, it states, following the delivery of additional planes, it will be operating from the U.S. to the Caribbean on a year-around basis.
So cost-conscious American travelers should pay heed to this new rogue airline. It is out to disturb the placid world of trans-Atlantic airfares. Go to Norwegian.com, and pull up its chart of airfares. You will find that the largest savings aren't available on every date of the year, and that the top bargains often require that you go and return on odd dates, and not simply according to a seven-day or fourteen-day pattern. By doing your homework, by carefully considering the offers of the cut-rate Norwegian Airlines, you should be able to pay the sort of airfares that were available several years ago.
Photo credit: Norwegian
