Norwegian to scrap long-haul flights from Edinburgh
Norwegian plans to exit its long-haul routes from Edinburgh next summer.
The Scandinavian low-cost carrier says it will on 30 March end its service linking the Scottish capital with Stewart International airport in Newburgh, New York, having already disclosed that its Providence flights from Edinburgh would cease that day.
Norwegian links the decision to the prospect of the Scottish government's delaying a reduction in air passenger duty.
Additionally, Norwegian says it will suspend flights from Edinburgh to Barcelona and Tenerife at the end of March, but will maintain "better-performing flights to Scandinavia".
Norwegian began the services to Newburgh, Hartford and Providence in June 2017, operated them with Boeing 737 Max narrowbodies. The Hartford flights were suspended earlier this year.
The Scottish government has previously committed to reducing and ultimately scrapping APD, but delays in securing EU approval to exempt the Highlands and Islands airports from air tax have slowed the process of effecting a wider reduction in the levy.
FlightGlobal schedules data indicates that American Airlines and Delta Air Lines operate between Edinburgh and New York JFK, while United offers a service to Newark.
Norwegian serves Scandinavian capitals Oslo, Copenhagen and Stockholm from Edinburgh. FG