Article from BTNews 2 OCTOBER 2017
Norwegian's Singapore revolution
A new era for long-haul travel began last week as Norwegian surged into the UK – Far East market with a four-a-week Dreamliner service between Gatwick and Singapore. At 12hr 24min, It is the world’s longest low-cost flight.
The tone was set by Gatwick CEO Stewart Wingate, who said: “Norwegian has raised the bar. Singapore is one of the world’s premier destinations and a significant addition to Gatwick’s 60-strong long-haul route network.”
Wingate said services in both directions were likely to be highly popular, especially with business travellers flying between two of the world’s top financial centres. It’s an exciting time for Gatwick as airlines like Norwegian continue the low-cost long-haul revolution.”
Norwegian CEO Bjørn Kjos said: “We have brought a taste of Singapore to Gatwick to mark the expansion of our high-quality long-haul flights from the UK to Asia for the first time. I’m delighted to build upon our popular US flights and give leisure and business customers more affordable access to the Asia-Pacific like never before.”
The launch crowned a significant week for Norwegian after the US Department of Transportation granted a foreign air carrier permit to the airline’s UK subsidiary, Norwegian UK (NUK), allowing it to operate flights between the UK, Europe and the US.
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franco mancassola, honolulu
Brilliant!!At the moment nobody really and truly OWNS the low cost/low fare platform in the UK-long haul routes. There is room for Norwegian to claim this position. There are low fares available (selectively and seasonally capacity controlled) but there is no KING of the LOW FARES. I do believe there is also a change in the way consumers approach buying products. There is less emphasis on “where” and “how” and more on “what” they buy. A few years ago, the low fare airline was always regarded as “also” in the market. Today they are rapidly becoming the brand by which all others are measured, a reversal of roles. The older carriers are regarded as big but no longer own the word IMPORTANT. The leaders are now the Low Cost/Low Fare airlines like Norwegian.