The announcement came on Friday, December 2, clearing the
way for a route that had been in the works for nearly three years.
Cork Airport managing director, Niall MacCarthy, said that
the new route “will help grow inbound tourism, give Cork
Airport’s passengers greater choice,
attract more investment to the region and improve social and cultural ties
between Ireland and the US.”
Norwegian Air officials said it hopes to have four-five
weekly flights, depending on its popularity. Officials say they will fly a Boeing 737-800
on the Boston-Cork route, which seats up to 189 passengers. Cork
is Ireland’s
second largest city, and also has the country’s second busiest airport.
Norwegian Air was rated
Europe’s Best
Low Cost Airline for a fourth consecutive year by industry website,
Airlineratings.com, which
is viewed by 14 million visitors from 232 countries.
"The Boston-Cork route adds another option for American
and Irish consumers traveling between these two great destinations," said
Colette Quinlin, managing director of the
Boston Irish Tourism Association.
"In addition,
Boston and
Cork share many amenities that appeal to
visitors: a rich and proud history, stunning coastline, a robust culinary scene
and a vibrant arts and cultural scene," she said.
"Securing a transatlantic service for Ireland’s
second largest airport has been an aspiration of ours for some time," MacCarthy said. "Norwegian Air’s service will be welcomed by business and leisure travelers
throughout the region.”
County Cork
is one of six counties in the
Province
of Munster, which also includes counties Kerry,
Waterford,
Limerick, Clare and
Tipperary.
Boston is located in
Massachusetts, which has the highest
percentage of residents with Irish ancestry in the
United States, at 21.5%. And
Massachusetts is part of the
New
England region, which also has a high percentage of Americans of
Irish descent.
For year round information on the Irish community in
Massachusetts, visit
IrishMassachusetts.com.
