STEWART AIRPORT – European low-cost airline Norwegian is going
to operate daily flights between Stewart Airport near Newburgh and European
destinations.
The airline already flies to other US cities, but Stewart is now going
to be added to the route schedule, initially with service to Ireland and
eventually to other destinations, Norwegian spokesman Anders Lindstrom
told Mid-Hudson News.
Service is expected to start in mid-2017 and continue to grow to other
destinations. Introductory fares may be as low as $69 one-way, he said.
Norwegian has 100 new Boeing 737 Max aircraft on order to be delivered
within two years. The airline will base two jets at Stewart with full
support staff, he said.
Stewart Airport Commission Chairman Louis Heimbach said Norwegian will
offer 21 weekly flights to England with service commencing in about a
year-and-a-half, once the Port Authority builds an addition to the airport
terminal that would be used exclusively for international travel.
Heimbach is looking forward beyond just the flights from Europe.
“Having those tourists come to Stewart means that many of them will
want to transfer to other airplanes to fly to different places in the
United States, so I hope this is incentive for many of our US carriers
to Stewart also,” Heimbach told Mid-Hudson News.
Orange County Executive Steven Neuhaus locating the carrier at Stewart
will also translate into ancillary services and jobs.
“You are going to have a big impact on ground transportation providers
like Coach USA – the bus company, as well as the Boeing company,
which is now going to be doing the maintenance on those planes. They will
now be looking for mechanics and people to maintain the 737 Max,”
Neuhaus said.
Norwegian currently operates 45 daily routes from the United States and
is the fastest growing airline in the world, Lindstrom said.
