Budget airline Norwegian Air launches £69 flights from UK to New York

A budget airline has launched bargain flights from the UK to New York costing just £69.

Low-cost carrier Norwegian Air is offering passengers in Britain cheap rates to fly direct to three destinations in the US when it starts the new routes from June this year.

Although the routes do not run from London, the special-price flights will be available from Edinburgh airport as well as Belfast, Cork, Shannon and Dublin from as little as £69 one-way.

Flights from the USA to the UK are even cheaper with journeys starting at just £52 for the first 10,000 seats.

Currently passengers after one-way direct flights to the USA for this summer would expect to pay upwards of £1,000. Flights with a stop-off are available from £300 and above.

The routes go to three US airports - Stewart International Airport around 70 miles north of New York, Providence Airport in Rhode Island near to Boston, and Bradley International Airport in Connecticut.

Passengers will be able to fly direct from Edinburgh two times a day from June 15 while flights from Dublin, Cork and Shannon in Ireland and Belfast in Northern Ireland will all start running from July 1.

The cheaper fares are offered thanks to the type of plane used, a Boeing 737MAX aircraft which burns less fuel than other long-haul aeroplanes, and the smaller airports where the planes land.

Norwegian CEO Bjorn Kjos said: “Our new, non-stop service will enable tens of thousands of new travellers to fly between the continents much more affordably.

“Norwegian’s latest transatlantic offering is not only great news for the traveling public, but also for the local U.S, Irish and UK economies as we will bring more tourists that will increase spending, supporting thousands of local jobs.”

After the flights went on sale, scores of hopeful travellers logged on to try and bag a good deal.

But many would-be passengers complained the cheap £69 flights, which only had limited availability, sold out.

The spokesperson for the airline on Twitter said the Edinburgh to New York flights “literally flew”.