LOCAL

Norwegian Air to offer Stewart to Ireland flights

Matt Coyne, The Journal News

By the middle of next year, Norwegian Air will begin offering flights from Stewart International Airport to Ireland. 

Exterior of Stewart Airport in New Windsor on Nov. 1, 2007.

The airline will start with flights to Cork from the Port Authority-run airport outside of Newburgh, while exploring the possibility of adding routes to Shannon and Dublin, along with other European destinations.

The airline will have two Boeing 737s based at the airport and will be looking to hire 75 pilots and cabin crew based in the area.

“When we make the (formal) announcement, we will have an introductory announcement fare of $69 plus tax one way,” said Anders Lindström, the director of communication for Norwegian Air in the United States.

“We will be offering the most affordable transatlantic flights Americans have ever had.”

Lindström said the announcement would be made early next year, with details including fares and frequency.

Louis Heimbach, the chairman of the Stewart Airport Commission and former Orange County executive, called it "great news," as it could pave the way for more service out of the airport.

"Hopefully many of these people coming as tourists or businesspeople might not have New York City as their destination," he said. "Maybe this will incentivize some domestic airlines to come and fly to more destinations from Stewart to other places in the country."

Heimbach said Norwegian was in the process of purchasing more planes from Boeing and that they would be maintained at Stewart.

“That’ll be some additional employment as well,” he said.

Delta, jetBlue, American and Allegiant offer flights out of Stewart. Allegiant and jetBlue fly to Florida, while Delta flies to Detroit and American to Philadelphia.

Norwegian is also looking to add flights to Ireland out of an airport in the greater Boston area, though the airline spokesman would not confirm which.