BREAKING: Direct transatlantic route from Cork to Boston announced

THE long-awaited news that the first direct transatlantic service is to take off from Cork Airport to Boston-Providence was announced at a press conference in Cork today by Norwegian CEO Bjørn Kjos. 

The new direct service from Cork to Boston/Providence will start on July 1^st next offering passengers across the South of Ireland some of the cheapest ever transatlantic fares ever seen starting from €69 one way.

The three-times weekly flights from Cork to Boston-Providence will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The flights will depart Cork at 16:20 and arrive at Providence at 19:05.

‘It has been a long and challenging journey to secure the services and the licences necessary to get our transatlantic services up and flying. However, we stayed with it all the way, partnering with Norwegian and with the support of our local stakeholders,’ said Niall MacCarthy, managing director at Cork Airport. 

‘Today’s announcement is not just about a new route, it also heralds low-cost transatlantic access. Norwegian will do for low-cost transatlantic services what Ryanair and others have done for low-cost European services. On that basis, we are really thrilled with today’s news. Cork Airport, already the Republic of Ireland’s second busiest airport, is now also Ireland’s newest transatlantic airport.

‘Today’s breakthrough presents great opportunities to further grow tourism in the South of Ireland in future years. Passenger growth in 2017, which is already underway, will come on top of the 8% passenger growth we delivered in Cork Airport last year. We look forward to welcoming US visitors directly onto our tarmac for the first time this July with knock on benefits to regional tourism. Equally, we look forward to providing our friendly and convenient customer service in a modern terminal setting to Irish passengers travelling to the United States.” 

The new routes were unveiled today at Cork Airport by Norwegian CEO Bjørn Kjos, who said: ‘These ambitious new transatlantic routes simply wouldn’t have been possible without the significant support we have received throughout Ireland over the last three years. We are hugely grateful for this continued support and are delighted to finally unveil our plans.

‘With the first ever transatlantic flights from Cork, we are shaking up transatlantic travel with ground-breaking fares and never before seen routes. The cost of transatlantic travel has been too high for too long so by connecting Irish cities with smaller US airports, we can offer some truly affordable fares, allowing as many people as possible to fly.’

• Tickets for the new service are now on sale at www.norwegian.com/ie