Roberta Aguirre
Norwegian Air, which offered affordable nonstop flights between New York Stewart International Airport and Ireland, ended its services in 2019. The airline's decision to discontinue flights from Stewart Airport was due to the grounding of its Boeing 737 MAX fleet following two fatal crashes. This left a market gap, which Norse Atlantic Airways, a new transatlantic budget airline, hopes to fill. As of January 2022, Norse Atlantic has received tentative approval from the U.S. Department of Transportation to operate flights between Stewart Airport and Oslo, with additional routes planned to Fort Lauderdale and Los Angeles.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason for Norwegian Air leaving Stewart Airport | The Boeing 737 MAX aircraft used by Norwegian Air for transatlantic flights between Ireland and North America was globally grounded due to two deadly crashes. The airline decided to end its operations as the route was no longer "commercially viable." |
| Date of Norwegian Air's departure | September 2019 |
| Impact on other services | Norwegian Air's decision did not impact their other long-haul services by the Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet through Europe. |
| Replacement airline | Norse Atlantic Airways, a new transatlantic budget airline, received tentative approval in January 2022 to operate flights from Stewart Airport to Oslo, Fort Lauderdale, and Los Angeles. |
| Impact on Stewart Airport | Norwegian Air was responsible for 600,000 international passengers passing through Stewart Airport annually. The airport experienced a decrease in total passengers from 690,441 in 2018 to 525,281 in 2019 after Norwegian Air scaled back operations and ceased service. |
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What You'll Learn
- Norwegian Air's decision to end flights from Stewart Airport was influenced by the global grounding of the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft
- Norwegian Air's departure left a market gap for affordable transatlantic flights from Stewart Airport
- Norse Atlantic Airways, a new transatlantic budget airline, has received tentative approval to operate flights from Stewart Airport
- The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has plans to expand both domestic and international service at Stewart Airport
- Norwegian Air was Stewart Airport's last international airline until it stopped service in 2019
Norwegian Air's decision to end flights from Stewart Airport was influenced by the global grounding of the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft
The Boeing 737 MAX aircraft was grounded globally in March 2019 after two separate crashes, one involving an Ethiopian Airlines flight where all 157 passengers onboard were killed. A system designed to prevent the aircraft from entering an aerodynamic stall was suspected to be a factor in the crashes, along with inadequate pilot training for the new model.
As a result of the grounding, Norwegian Air was left without its aircraft for these routes and had to find alternative solutions. The airline initially deployed a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, a larger aircraft with nearly double the seating capacity, to continue serving passengers from Stewart Airport to Dublin. However, this was only a temporary solution, and the airline also had to resort to costly and inefficient measures such as using buses to transport passengers from Providence to Stewart Airport.
Ultimately, Norwegian Air concluded that without the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, the routes from Stewart Airport were no longer commercially viable. In August 2019, the airline announced it would be ending all transatlantic operations between Ireland and North America, including the routes from Stewart Airport. This decision marked the end of Norwegian Air's operations at the airport, and the last Norwegian flights from Stewart Airport were on September 14, 2019, arriving in Dublin on September 15.
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Norwegian Air's departure left a market gap for affordable transatlantic flights from Stewart Airport
Norwegian Air's departure from Stewart International Airport in 2019 left a significant gap in the market for affordable transatlantic flights. The airline had been offering low-cost fares, with some one-way tickets priced under $100, making international travel more accessible to a wider range of customers. This was particularly advantageous for those in upstate and downstate New York, as Stewart Airport is conveniently located about an hour and a half's drive from both New York City and Albany.
Norwegian Air's decision to end its transatlantic operations between Ireland and North America was primarily due to the grounding of the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft following two fatal crashes. The airline attempted to substitute the 737 MAX with other aircraft on the Dublin and Canada routes from Stewart, but ultimately deemed these routes no longer commercially viable.
The impact of Norwegian Air's departure was felt not only by travellers but also by the airport itself. In 2018, during Norwegian's only full calendar year at the airport, Stewart's total passenger numbers rose to 690,441. This number dropped to 525,281 in 2019 when Norwegian scaled back its operations and eventually ceased service from the airport.
Recognizing the demand for affordable transatlantic flights, a new airline, Norse Atlantic Airways, has emerged with the goal of filling the market gap left by Norwegian Air. In January 2022, Norse Atlantic received tentative approval from the U.S. Department of Transportation to operate flights between Stewart Airport and Oslo, Norway. With a leased fleet of Boeing 787 Dreamliners, Norse Atlantic aims to provide affordable and environmentally friendly service to customers travelling between Europe and the United States.
Norse Atlantic's entry into the market has been well-received, with hopes that it will increase accessibility and competition in the transatlantic flight sector. The airline has also committed to permanent employment for its workforce, a move that sets it apart from industry norms of classifying workers as contractors. As Norse Atlantic prepares for takeoff, it remains to be seen whether it can successfully fill the void left by Norwegian Air and meet the demands of travellers seeking affordable international travel options.
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Norse Atlantic Airways, a new transatlantic budget airline, has received tentative approval to operate flights from Stewart Airport
In 2019, Norwegian Air ended its transatlantic operations between Ireland and North America, including flights from Stewart International Airport in New York. The decision was made following the grounding of the airline's Boeing 737 MAX aircraft after two fatal crashes. As a result, Norwegian Air's services from Stewart Airport to Dublin, Cork, and Shannon were discontinued.
Following the departure of Norwegian Air from Stewart Airport, a new transatlantic budget airline, Norse Atlantic Airways, has emerged. In January 2022, Norse Atlantic received tentative approval from the U.S. Department of Transportation to operate flights between Stewart Airport and Oslo, Norway. The airline also plans to offer flights between Norway and Fort Lauderdale and Los Angeles.
Norse Atlantic Airways aims to fill the market gap left by Norwegian Air, which previously provided affordable nonstop flights between the United States and Ireland. Bjorn Kjos, the former CEO of Norwegian Air, is reportedly an investor in Norse Atlantic. The new airline has leased a fleet of Boeing 787 Dreamliners and has made commitments to hire a significant number of U.S. flight attendants and pilots.
Maureen Halahan, president of the Orange County Partnership, expressed enthusiasm for Norse Atlantic's arrival at Stewart Airport. She highlighted the potential for increased accessibility and ease of travel between Europe and the New York City area. To support the development of air services at Stewart Airport, a Stewart Air Service Development Committee has been formed in collaboration with the Orange County Chamber of Commerce and Orange County Tourism.
The tentative approval from the U.S. Department of Transportation marks a significant step forward for Norse Atlantic Airways in entering the competitive transatlantic budget airline market. With the projected hiring of 1,600 employees and a focus on affordability and environmental sustainability, Norse Atlantic Airways aims to provide a compelling alternative for travellers seeking convenient and cost-effective options for transatlantic travel.
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The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has plans to expand both domestic and international service at Stewart Airport
In 2007, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey took over the lease of Stewart International Airport, located in Orange County, New York, and approximately 60 miles (97 km) north of Manhattan. The airport is a public/military airport that was initially developed in the 1930s as a military base for aviation training for cadets at the nearby United States Military Academy at West Point.
The Port Authority has expressed its intention to revitalise the airport and the surrounding region as air travel gradually recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. To this end, it has announced three major initiatives to expand both domestic and international service at the airport. These initiatives include modernising the Air Carrier Incentive Program, leveraging partnerships with regional and state agencies, and hiring a marketing firm to increase the airport's visibility.
The Air Carrier Incentive Program offers airport fee waivers and marketing support for 24 months to airlines that introduce new nonstop services to destinations not currently served from the airport. This program aims to attract new carriers, expand service to new markets, and retain existing carriers. The Port Authority has also engaged in discussions with various domestic and international airlines to explore potential new routes.
Additionally, the Port Authority plans to collaborate with local attractions such as the Storm King Art Center, Resorts World Catskills, and LEGOLAND New York Resort to foster potential partnerships that will enhance tourism and air service in the region. These initiatives are part of a broader five-point strategic plan for the airport, which includes a $500 million ten-year capital improvement programme to expand the airport and promote its growth.
The Port Authority's efforts to expand Stewart Airport come after Norwegian Air's departure in 2019, which left a market gap for affordable transatlantic flights. Norwegian Air had offered low-cost flights to Ireland from Stewart Airport, but the grounding of their Boeing 737 MAX fleet due to safety concerns led to the airline's decision to discontinue these services. Norse Atlantic Airways, a new budget airline, has since received tentative approval to operate flights between Stewart Airport and Oslo, filling the void left by Norwegian Air.
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Norwegian Air was Stewart Airport's last international airline until it stopped service in 2019
Norwegian Air was Stewart Airport's last international airline until it stopped its service in 2019. The airline began its service at Stewart Airport in 2017 and offered cheap international flights to several destinations in the United Kingdom, including Dublin, Cork, and Shannon in Ireland. The airline also offered flights to Canada. Norwegian Air's flights were especially convenient for travelers from upstate and downstate New York, as Stewart Airport is located about an hour and a half's drive from both New York City and Albany.
However, in 2019, Norwegian Air made the decision to end its operations at Stewart Airport. This was primarily due to the grounding of the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, which the airline had been using for its transatlantic routes. Two fatal crashes involving this aircraft model led to its global grounding, and Norwegian Air determined that continuing the routes without this plane was no longer "commercially viable". The last Norwegian flights from Stewart Airport were on September 14, 2019, arriving in Dublin on September 15.
The end of Norwegian Air's service at Stewart Airport left a gap in the market for affordable international flights in the region. In 2022, a new transatlantic budget airline, Norse Atlantic Airways, announced its plans to operate flights from Stewart Airport to Oslo, Fort Lauderdale, and Los Angeles. As of January 2022, the airline has received tentative approval from the U.S. Department of Transportation to operate these routes.
Stewart Airport has also welcomed a $37 million facility as part of its pandemic recovery efforts, and it aims to expand both domestic and international service. The airport's total passenger numbers rose to 690,441 in 2018, during Norwegian Air's only full calendar year at the airport. This number fell to 525,281 in 2019 when Norwegian Air began scaling back its operations before stopping service altogether.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Norwegian Air left Stewart Airport in 2019. The airline ended its services from Stewart to Ireland effective September 15, 2019.
Norwegian Air left Stewart Airport because it was no longer commercially viable for the airline. The decision was made due to the grounding of the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, which was involved in two deadly crashes.
The Boeing 737 MAX aircraft was grounded globally due to two crashes that left 346 passengers and crew dead. The crashes were attributed to a system designed to prevent the aircraft from entering an aerodynamic stall, and inadequate pilot training for the new model may have also been a factor.
There are a few other airlines that operate at Stewart Airport, including JetBlue, Delta, and PLAY. In 2022, a new transatlantic budget airline, Norse Atlantic Airways, also announced its plans to operate flights between Stewart Airport and Oslo.
The departure of Norwegian Air from Stewart Airport impacted travellers who had come to rely on the convenient and affordable international flight options that the airline provided. It also affected the airport's total passenger numbers, which fell from 690,441 in 2018 to 525,281 in 2019.
