Norwegian will stop all transatlantic flights from Ireland on 15 September.
According to the Norwegian price fighter, this decision is necessary
because of the continuing uncertainty about when the Boeing 737 MAX fleet
can be put back into service. This type of aircraft has been on the ground
for five months now.
 
A total of six routes from Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports to New York
Stewart and Providence in the US and Hamilton in Canada were previously
operated with the 737 MAX. This economical aircraft combines a limited
passenger capacity with a large flight range.
 
Because the 737 MAX fleet must remain on the ground, Norwegian was (and is)
forced to use other, less sustainable aircraft to be able to operate the
flights. This was partly due to wet lease aircraft. That turned out to be a
costly affair. Because the uncertainty about 737 MAX persists, Norwegian
has decided to pull the plug out of the routes. The airline has been flying
from Ireland to North America since 2017.
 
Norwegian says to go in consultation with the unions to prevent the firing
of pilots and cabin crew in Dublin. Office staff of Norwegian Air
International and subsidiary Arctic Aviation Assets stationed in Ireland
were not affected.

--- D'Bridge 3.99