Norwegian Air will continue its expansion into U.S. markets when it adds Rome to its roster of European routes, Thomas Ramdahl, Norwegian's chief commercial officer, told USA Today.
The news comes just days before the airline is scheduled to begin its most ambitious U.S. ventures to date.
Norwegian Air begins service to Barcelona next week and, in mid-June, begins 12 new non-stop routes from Newburgh, New York; Hartford, Connecticut.; and Providence, Rhode Island to Ireland and the United Kingdom.
Ramdahl told the paper that Norwegian opened a base for European flights in Rome last year, allowing the carrier "to become more known in the Italian market, and that "now was the right time to take Rome out as a long-haul destination."
Flights to Rome from Newark-Liberty International begin Nov. 9 with four flights a week, increasing to six flights a week in February. Service from Los Angeles begins Nov. 11, with two flights a week increasing to three in February while the Oakland-to-Rome routes begin Feb. 6 with two flights a week.
Norwegian put flights from all three airports on sale Wednesday morning, beginning at $189 one-way from Newark and $229 one-way from Los Angeles and Oakland.
[READMORE]READ MORE: Norwegian Air To Use Smaller US Airports For Europe Routes [/READMORE]
The carrier now flies a total of 52 non-stop routes from 12 U.S. airports to 13 European destinations-much to the consternation of U.S.-based airlines and unions who believe Norwegian has skirted Norway's labor laws by setting up a base in Ireland, where it allegedly hires below-market flight crews from other countries.
Norwegian Air has denied the claims and said it is in full compliance with the Open Skies Agreements.
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