Press release -

Ready for Take Off

Norwegian, the World’s Best Low-Cost Long-Haul Airline and Europe’s Best Low-Cost Airline, today launched its first nonstop transatlantic flight from Stewart International Airport to Edinburgh Airport in Scotland. This is the first of five routes that will operate from the airport. The airline’s other routes to Ireland, Northern Ireland and Norway will launch in July.

Stewart International Airport will also be the home of Norwegian’s newest crew base – its third in the United States. The airline will station two Boeing 737 MAX aircraft and 30 pilots and flight attendants at the Orange County airport to accommodate the new service offering, with plans to hire additional crew later in the year.

Thomas Ramdahl, Norwegian’s Chief Commercial Officer, said: “Four years ago, Norwegian’s low-cost long-haul flights revolutionized transatlantic travel, and we are pleased to pave the way once more with our long-anticipated service from Stewart International Airport to several destinations in Europe. Serving two destinations from New York allows us to reinforce our commitment to U.S. growth by bringing more tourists to the region and creating even more American jobs.”

Pat Foye, Port Authority Executive Director, said: “Today’s inaugural Norwegian flight signifies the launch of a new era that will be transformative for Stewart International Airport and the Mid-Hudson Valley region in terms of jobs, tourism, and economic development. The airport’s connection to new international destinations offers exciting opportunities for our customers and growth for the airport and the region."

As the second-largest employer in the Hudson Valley region, Stewart International Airport employs approximately 2,700 people and generates $450 million in annual economic activity. With this new air service, the estimated total economic impact is expected to result in the creation of an estimated 230 jobs per year, $13 million in total wages and $36 million in overall economic activity.

Gavin Landry, Executive Director of Tourism, Empire State Development, said: “Tourism is integral to New York State’s economy, supporting more than 900,000 jobs and generating billions in spending each year, and we are excited to welcome Norwegian and its many international travelers to Stewart Airport. I would encourage visitors to explore all that’s unique to New York State: our world-class parks, museums and historic attractions, and experience the fine restaurants and craft beverage destinations in the picturesque Hudson Valley and throughout Upstate New York.”

Malcolm Roughead, Chief Executive of VisitScotland, said: “Scotland is more connected than ever before through transport and digital channels, giving it a louder voice within key markets. The United States is our biggest international market, and last year we saw an 18 percent increase in the number of visitors from North America along with a 40 percent increase in spend, Not only is it exciting to see Norwegian add direct flights between three new destinations in the US and Edinburgh, but these low-cost transatlantic fares also come at a time when the exchange rate is already making Scotland a very appealing destination and this will undoubtedly generate a great deal more interest among US travelers.”

Paul Gauger, Executive Vice President, Americas for VisitBritain, said:“Just in time for Edinburgh’s famed festival season, we are delighted to be working with Norwegian and VisitScotland to introduce new direct flights from the U.S. into Scotland’s capital. Edinburgh’s legendary festivals are celebrating their 70th anniversary this year so these new route launches couldn’t come at a better time and give more Americans the chance to experience all the special events taking place this summer. Scotland is an extremely popular destination for Americans and Edinburgh is the perfect home base to explore Scotland’s bustling cities – including Glasgow which is less than an hour away – and its breath-taking highlands and islands.”

Norwegian’s new flights to Edinburgh will operate daily during the summer and three times per week (Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays) during the winter with fares currently available at Norwegian.com/us for as low as $99 one-way, including taxes. The lowest fares to Scotland and all of Norwegian’s destinations can be found by using the airline’s low fare calendar. Additionally, passengers on all of Norwegian’s routes are eligible to join Norwegian Reward, the airline’s frequent flyer program and can earn CashPoints every time they fly, stay at a hotel or drive a rental car.

Overall, Norwegian now offers 52 transatlantic flights from 13 U.S. airports to Denmark, France, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom, as well six routes to the French Caribbean, totaling 58 routes out of the United States. Upcoming 2017 launches from the U.S. include: Providence to Edinburgh (June 16), Hartford to Edinburgh (June 17); Newburgh/Stewart to Belfast (July 1); Newburgh/Stewart to Dublin (July 1); Providence to Belfast (July 1); Providence to Bergen (July 1); Providence to Cork (July 1); Newburgh/Stewart to Bergen (July 2); Newburgh/Stewart to Shannon (July 2); Providence to Dublin (July 2); Providence to Shannon (July 3); Orlando to Paris (July 31); Fort Lauderdale to Barcelona (August 22); Denver to London (September 16) Seattle to London (September 17); Providence to Guadeloupe (October 29); Providence to Martinique (October 30); Newark to Rome (November 9) and Los Angeles to Rome (November 11). Upcoming 2018 launches from the U.S. include: Oakland to Rome (February 6).

Norwegian Media Contact

Réal Hamilton-RomeoUS Corporate Communications

real.hamilton-romeo@norwegian.comPressUSA@norwegian.com

954 647 4390

Topics

  • Tourism

Regions

  • Scotland

Notes to Editors

  • Follow us on twitter: @visitscotnews
  • VisitScotland is Scotland’s national tourism organisation. Its core purpose is to maximise the economic benefit of tourism to Scotland.
  • The organisation’s core objective is to contribute to the Tourism 2020 Strategy ambition of growing tourism revenues by £1 billion by 2020.
  • This will be supported by seven overarching strategies:
    1. Marketing: we will market Scotland and its outstanding assets to visitors from all parts of the world, including the promotion of Scotland to people living in Scotland to visit different parts of the country
    2. Events: we will support the national events strategy and its delivery, and sustain, develop and promote Scotland’s international profile as one of the world’s foremost events destinations
    3. Internationalisation and International Engagement: we will utilise all our platforms to enable Scottish-based tourism businesses to better understand international opportunities and market to a global audience and we will work within One Scotland Partnerships to optimise the potential of Scotland’s Diaspora and our strategic partners at regional, European and global levels
    4. Customer Experience: we will provide information and inspiration to visitors both locally and globally via their preferred medium of choice
    5. Quality and Sustainability: we will provide support and advice to businesses, with the goal of improving the quality and sustainability of the tourism sector in Scotland. We will provide quality assurance to visitors through our Quality Schemes
    6. Inclusive Tourism: we will strive to make tourism in Scotland inclusive and available to all
    7. Working in Partnership: we will listen to and work with the industry, partners and communities to shape our offering and support
  • To ensure everyone can safely enjoy Scotland’s amazing countryside and landscapes, VisitScotland encourages all visitors to fully respect their surroundings by behaving in a responsible and appropriate way.
  • VisitScotland works together with tourism businesses to make tourism a success for everyone and ensure the industry continues to grow.
  • The organisation employs 700 people and has offices and VisitScotland Information Centres across Scotland.
  • Spending by tourists in Scotland generates around £12 billion of economic activity in the wider Scottish supply chain and contributes around £6 billion to Scottish GDP (in basic prices). This represents about 5% of total Scottish GDP
  • The Scottish Government is the Managing Authority for the European Structural Funds 2014-20 Programme. For further information visit www.gov.scot or follow @scotgovESIF
  • For VisitScotland’s press releases go to http://www.visitscotland.org/media_centre.aspx, tourism statistics and frequently asked questions go to http://www.visitscotland.org/
  • Where possible, a Gaelic speaker will be made available for broadcast interviews on request (Far an tèid iarraidh, agus far am bheil sin nar comas, bruidhinnidh neach le Gàidhlig aig agallamh)
  • 2017 Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology
  • 2017 is the year to delve into the past and discover Scotland’s fascinating stories through a wide-ranging variety of new and existing activity to drive the nation’s tourism and events sector, boosting tourism across Scotland.
  • The Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology begins on 1 January 2017 and will end on 31 December 2017. It will build on the momentum generated by previous themed years in Scotland including the 2015 Year of Food and Drink, Homecoming Scotland 2014, the Year of Creative and the Year of Natural.
  • The Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology is a Scottish Government initiative being led by VisitScotland, and supported by a variety of partners including Creative Scotland, Scottish Tourism Alliance, Scottish Enterprise, The National Trust for Scotland, Historic Environment Scotland, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Built Environment Forum Scotland, Heritage Lottery Fund, Museums Galleries Scotland and Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland.
  • The Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology is supported by £570,000 of Scottish Government funding.
  • The Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology events fund is managed by EventScotland, part of VisitScotland’s Events Directorate.
  • For more information visit visitscotland.com/HHA2017 or join the conversation at #HHA2017

Contacts

Chelsea Charles

Press contact Scotland’s Themed Years Communications & Engagement Manager Contact for media enquiries on: Scotland’s Themed Years (i.e. 2018 Year of Young People; 2020 Year of Scotland's Coast and Waters; 2022 Year of Scotland's Stories) 0131 472 2067

Carrie MacWilliam

Press contact Senior Corporate Press Officer - National Contact for media enquiries on: Travel media (Scotland); Year of Young People; UK Marketing; Dundee; Fife; Angus; Perthshire 0131 472 2052

Amelia Whittaker

Press contact Senior Corporate Press Officer - Regional Contact for media enquiries on: South Region; Edinburgh and Lothians; Food and Drink; Scottish Thistle Awards 01750 723806