“I very much welcome the Order made today (Friday) by the US Department of Transportation, which tentatively finds that Irish airline Norwegian Air International (NAI) should be issued with a foreign air carrier permit. This is an important breakthrough in the process to allow the airline commence services to the US. The Irish Government has called on the US authorities to grant this permit to NAI since it was first applied for over two years ago. Last month I spoke directly with my US counterpart, the Secretary for Transportation, Anthony Foxx, on the matter. The Taoiseach also raised it with President Obama when they met on 15th March.
“I note that the airline has today confirmed that once the permit is made final, it will allow Norwegian Air International to begin operations to the U.S., including the services from Cork Airport, which were announced earlier this year. One of the primary aims of the National Aviation Policy, which I published last year, is to foster innovative competition, such as that offered by NAI, and to increase Ireland’s connectivity.”
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