Norwegian says it will launch nonstop flights from New York to Athens and Chicago to Barcelona for the 2019 summer season.
The New York-Athens route begins June 7 while Chicago-Barcelona begins July 2. Both will operate four times a week on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner until October 26.
It will see the low-cost carrier fly nonstop to 13 European destinations this summer.
Norwegian will also take its flights from Newark Liberty International Airport to Barcelona daily, and increase its Los Angeles to Barcelona service to six times a week.
American Airlines flies Chicago to Barcelona seasonally while Delta flies New York to Athens.
“Norwegian is fully committed to the United States and have answered our passengers’ growing demand for more destinations from both New York City and Chicago,” said Matthew Wood, SVP of Commercial Long Haul and New Markets for Norwegian.
“Already serving most of Europe’s top destinations, Athens is an exciting addition to our transatlantic route network. Barcelona, which we added two and half years ago from the US, is performing so well that we are adding both a new route, from Chicago, and increasing frequencies from both New York City and Los Angeles,” Wood added.
Norwegian faced a tough year in 2018 due to volatile fuel prices, delays leading to compensation payouts, and engine problems. Last week it reported a £131 million annual loss.
It cut its routes from Singapore, Edinburgh and Belfast but announced a new service to Rio de Janiero, billing it as the first low-cost path from London to the city.
At an event attended by Business Traveller in October, CFO Geir Karlsen said the carrier would focus on less competitive routes, especially to and within South America.
In a statement last week Norwegian said its path back to profitability would involve “an extensive cost reduction program, an optimised route portfolio and sale of aircraft.”
