Norse Atlantic Debuts With U.S.–Europe Flights Starting at $116

Planning a trip to Europe this summer? A new transatlantic low-cost carrier has launched just in time to alleviate the inevitable sticker shock of international air travel in 2022. Norse Atlantic Airways, a revival of the former budget airline Norwegian Air, will commence its first transatlantic flights on June 14 from Oslo to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). It has already revealed plans for daily services starting in August from New York to London Gatwick and Berlin, with introductory one-way fares beginning at $116 to the U.K. There will also be nonstop flights to Berlin from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) in August, starting at $138 one-way. Additionally, Norse Atlantic will operate flights from Oslo to Florida, launching services to Fort Lauderdale this month and to Orlando in July. Flying across the Atlantic for under $300 round trip is an incredible deal, but remember that these low fares often come with limitations. Extras like checked luggage and meals are not included in the base fare, which is tiered; the “Light” class is akin to basic economy (no checked luggage and meals cost extra), while “Plus” offers free checked bags, meals, and more flexibility for changes. The low-cost carrier’s Boeing 787 will feature both economy and premium cabins, with the latter offering recliner seats that have a 43-inch pitch.

If all this sounds familiar, it’s because Norse isn’t entirely new; it is, in many respects, a revival of Norwegian Air, the once-thriving budget airline that was one of the largest European carriers in the U.S. market. However, Norwegian’s rapid expansion left it vulnerable, and the pandemic ultimately led to the end of its transatlantic operations in late 2020 when it sought bankruptcy protection after the Norwegian government denied its request for additional financial support. By early 2021, the airline had halted all transatlantic flights. Norse was established later that year to acquire the assets of the long-haul unit, including 15 of its Dreamliners, and its leadership features several former executives from Norwegian Air. To prevent a repeat of its predecessor’s fate, the airline is carefully planning its launch, focusing on popular destinations like London and cities like Berlin, which, as Norse CEO Bjorn Tore Larsen noted this week, “has suffered from inadequate direct transatlantic connectivity.”

Norse Atlantic’s new routes and introductory fares

Departing from New York

• JFK–Oslo (OSL): daily flights starting June 14, with one-way fares from $129
• JFK–London Gatwick (LGW): daily flights starting August 12, with one-way fares from $116
• JFK–Berlin (BER): daily flights starting August 18, with one-way fares from $120

Departing from Los Angeles

• LAX–OSL: three flights per week starting August 9, with one-way fares from $169
• LAX–BER: three flights per week starting August 19, with one-way fares from $138

Departing from Fort Lauderdale

• FLL–OSL: three flights weekly starting June 18, with one-way fares beginning at $149

Departing from Orlando

• MCO–OSL: three flights weekly starting July 5, with one-way fares starting at $149

As Norse expands—recently hinting at a potential new route to Paris—its predecessor continues to have a presence abroad. Passengers flying with Norse to Europe might do a double take upon spotting the Norwegian livery on narrow-body aircraft at the airport. The former short-haul unit of Norwegian, which focused on intra-European routes, successfully navigated the pandemic through a restructuring strategy and was fully operational as a budget competitor, similar to Ryanair, by last year.