Norwegian Air Is Quietly Dominating the Transatlantic Airfare Market

Low-cost carrier

Norwegian Air

will introduce new direct service from Boston's Logan International Airport to Copenhagen, Oslo, and London (Gatwick) this May, making it Boston's largest international airline. Norwegian joins other low-cost carriers like WOW Air in targeting Boston as its gateway to Europe.

While it is a low-cost airline, Norwegian brings something different to the table than the "ultra" low cost lines you may be used to. It was named Best Low-Cost Long-Haul Airline and Europe's Best Low-Cost Airline by SkyTrax for the past three years—offering both Premium and Economy seats on its Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet, which travels all of Norwegian's long-haul routes. Fares start at $215 one-way in Economy, which offers on-demand in-flight entertainment and 32 inches of leg room. Premium seats get 46 inches of leg room and inflight meals. Economy passengers can pre-purchase meals or order inflight from the snack bar directly from their seats.

Norwegian boasts that its planes actually reduce jetlag with higher oxygen levels, dynamic LED lighting, and lower noise levels than typical transatlantic flights. The Dreamliners are also fuel-efficient and eco-friendly, helping the airline earn the title of Most Fuel-Efficient Airline on Transatlantic Routes last year.



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From Boston, Norwegian will fly to London five times weekly, Oslo twice weekly, and Copenhagen once weekly. And, Europe isn't the only destination Norwegian is targeting from Boston; in 2015 it started seasonal flights to Guadeloupe and Martinique in the French Caribbean, significantly increasing U.S. tourism to the islands.

Overall, Norwegian plans to offer 38 nonstop routes from the U.S. to London, Paris, and Scandinavia by this summer. Boston joins the list of Norwegian's U.S. departure cities offering transatlantic flights, including Las Vegas, Oakland, Los Angeles, New York, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, and Puerto Rico. The airline also offers six seasonal direct routes to the French Caribbean from Baltimore/Washington D.C., Boston, and New York, starting at just $49 one-way.

While you have to

pay extra

for things like checked bags and inflight meals on a standard Economy fare, the low base fares seem to be worth it. (The reduced jetlag is an intriguing feature, too.)