The boss of Scandinavian carrier Norwegian has made a personal plea for US regulators to approve its plans for low-fare transatlantic flights.
Chief executive Bjørn Kjos called on the US Department of Transportation to support an application for a foreign air carrier permit for its Irish subsidiary Norwegian Air International.
Speaking in Washington, he said: “We are doing exactly what the Obama administration wants: create American jobs, bring tourists to the United States and offer Americans cheap flights.
“The transatlantic market has far too long been dominated by alliances that have been allowed to rule the market with high prices and limited choice.”
Kjos said it was “high time” the US government approved Norwegian’s EU-based long-haul arm’s application for a foreign air carrier permit, which received its Irish Air Operator’s Certificates in February.
The application for a US air carrier permit has been under consideration since then but has faced vigorous opposition from rivals and unions.
The company claims that NAI meets all statutory and regulatory requirements to fly to and from the US. Norwegian Air Shuttle currently operates the routes between Europe and the US, including flights from Gatwick which were launched in the summer.
Norwegian contends that the main reason its has established a long-haul airline in Ireland is to gain access to traffic rights in the EU, since Norway is not a member of the EU.
By gaining a foothold in the EU, Norwegian says it will be able to offer more international routes in the future.
Kjos said: “It has taken far too long for DoT to fulfil its legal responsibility and approve NAI’s application. Our vision is that ‘everyone should afford to fly’, and it is a principle we intend to continue with, also with Norwegian Air International and flights between the US and Europe.”
Norwegian has two bases in the US, employing 300 cabin crew in Fort Lauderdale and New York. It is recruiting American pilots at its New York pilot base.
Of the 300 cabin crew positions, for which Norwegian said it received more than 7,000 applications, the “vast majority” previously worked for US airlines like Delta, American and United.
They chose to join Norwegian for the pay, benefits, working environment, as well as the chance to fly new Boeing 787 Dreamliners, the carrier said.