CORK HAS WAITED 50 years for direct transatlantic flights and a new ruling has brought them a step closer.
Norwegian Air announced last year that it would be operating flights from Cork to Boston four times a week from May, but that timeframe has been thrown into doubt by US red tape.
The flights are dependant on US authorities giving their approval to Norwegian Air International, the Ireland-based subsidiary of Norwegian Air Shuttle.
That has been slow to come but the US Department of Transportation has today concluded that the application meets the normal standards for approval.
While it is not the official green light, the Department of Transportation’s determination means that there is no legal basis to deny the application.
The news has been welcomed by by both the Cork Chamber and by Transport Minister Paschal Donohoe.
Donohoe say that he spoke to his counterpart the Secretary for Transportation last month about the matter with Taoiseach Enda Kenny also raising the matter with US President Barack Obama.
The minister said that once the final permit is made Norwegian Air can begin its Cork-Boston flights.
The airline has said that the transatlantic flights from Cork are “only the beginning” of the company’s plans for expansion in Ireland.
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