A budget airline is launching flights to New York from the UK for just £56 after slashing prices by more than 50 per cent.
Norwegian has fired the first salvo in a transatlantic price war by announcing the one-way fares which will start next summer.
The airline plans to start using fuel-efficient Boeing 737 MAX jets on the route from Edinburgh to New York shortly after it takes delivery of the aircraft in April.
But passengers will not be flying to the state’s enormous John F Kennedy airport as it is cheaper for planes to land on out-of-town runways.
It has not yet been announced where the flights will touch down but Norwegian already flies to Newark Liberty International Airport from the UK.
Fortunately that airport is a similar distance from New York City as JFK meaning travellers will not have to spend hours bussing in.
The airline’s boss Bjorn Kjos said: “We have a totally different set up to other airlines.
“The Boeing 737MAX has a very modern engine, which means it can go for a longer distance.
“We’ll also be flying to secondary airports in New York. That means we don’t pay as much and can charge cheaper fares.”
Norwegian already operates two flights a day from Gatwick to New York starting at £125 each way for a ticket.
The latest price cut follows the airline’s launch of a UK to Las Vegas service for less than £400 return.
But while the seats are cheap passengers will be charged extra for things like checked luggage, a meal on board or a seat reservation.
Norwegian is also planning to increase the number of flights from London to the US by 55 per cent next year to keep up with “huge” demand from customers.
Kjos added: “Everyone said would low cost long-haul work. But passengers have shown that is demand there.”
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