In the world of cheap ticket airfares, Ryanair and Easyjet are easily the two most common mentioned names. But they don’t have a market on long haul trips, and it appears there is a new kid in town and they are changing the game and upsetting the competition.
Norwegian Air has been slowly creeping in on the competition. With their recent acquisition of 32 new Dreamliner planes, expected by 2020, they are increasing their international long haul routes as well as being able to keep the prices to a minimum. They are already shaking things up in the United States, as more customers hear about their cheap flights from Gatwick to Boston, and New York.
These are huge savings to two of the most popular east coast cites. If the prices continue like this, they will have the market cornered very shortly.
For example, if you compare the price of a round trip ticket using American Airlines to Norwegian’s fare, it’s hundreds of US dollars more. Granted, Norwegian stops at Gatwick, and American is at Heathrow, but for many, this isn’t a major problem, the savings more than makes up the cost of travel to central London.
Although the short haul low fare airlines have mentioned their desire to expand into the long haul market, it appears Norwegian will have established a strong presence that will be difficult to push out of the market, but it will be a refreshing change in the US market, as the other legacy airlines will have to compete with the newcomer.
All in all, it’s a sound plan for an airline that was struggling a bit, but seems to have found its feet and a new market to conquer.