Today, Norwegian's CEO Bjørn Kjos will call on the US Department of Transportation (DOT) to once and for all approve the application for a foreign air carrier permit for the company’s Irish subsidiary Norwegian Air International (NAI) in a speech in Washington DC.
“We are doing exactly what the Obama administration wants: create American jobs, bring tourists to the United States and offer Americans cheap flights. The transatlantic market has far too long been dominated by alliances that have been allowed to rule the market with high prices and limited choice,” says Bjørn Kjos.
Norwegian’s CEO is trying to convince the US government to approve its EU-based long-haul company’s application for a foreign air carrier permit, which received its Irish Air Operator’s Certificates (AOC) in February. The application for an American air carrier permit has been under consideration ever since and has been vigorously opposed by competitors and unions.
“It has taken far too long for DOT to fulfil its legal responsibility and approve NAI’s application. Our vision is that ‘Everyone Should Afford to Fly’, and it is a principle we intend to continue with, also with Norwegian Air International and flights between the US and Europe,” says Kjos.
Today, Norwegian has two bases in the US. It employs 300 cabin crew members in Fort Lauderdale and New York, and is currently recruiting American pilots at its New York pilot base. The airline said in a press release: “Of the 300 cabin crew, for which Norwegian received more than 7,000 applications, the vast majority had previously worked for US airlines like Delta, American and United, and chose to join Norwegian for the pay, benefits, working environment, as well as the chance to fly brand new Dreamliner aircraft.”