All Things Travel: Low Cost Flights To The Caribbean Arrive
BOSTON (CBS) – It now costs less to fly from Boston to the Caribbean than it does to New York City.
Norwegian Air has begun service to Guadeloupe and Martinique for as little as $69 one-way for the winter season. The flights will be on new Boeing 737-800 aircraft.
It is the first time in over two decades that there has been non-stop service to the French-speaking Antilles. The Euro is the main form of currency there. With a strong dollar, travelers will realize value with payment in Euros.
The new flights are part of a major expansion of Norwegian Air at Logan Airport.
Based in Oslo, Norwegian will add spring European flights to Copenhagen; Cork, Ireland; London and Oslo.
Founded in 1993, Norwegian is the third largest low-cost carrier in Europe with over 440 routes to 132 destinations. Its staff now numbers over 5,500.
Flights to the Caribbean will be on Boeing 737-800 jets carrying 186 passengers in one class of service. On the December 3 first flight to Guadeloupe, 124 people were on board as the jet left the gate in Terminal E at Logan Airport.
Norwegian Air recently placed an order with Boeing to purchase 19 new 787-9 Dreamliners in the next five years for long haul service. The deal also included the option to purchase ten additional aircraft.
The 787 Dreamliners have 344 seats with 35 in premium and 119 passengers in economy.
"We expect to see many more people booking flights to the Caribbean as the temperature drops," said Todd Smith, Director of Aviation Operations, as the first flight got ready to depart.
Lars Sande, Senior Vice President Sales & Distribution for Norwegian was also in Boston for the event along with Keith Fogarty, Ground Transportation Manager based in Ireland.
Norwegian is the first of several new low-cost airlines that will be coming to Logan Airport next year. The first such airline was WOW Airlines flying to Iceland with connecting service to Europe.
According to Yil Surehan, who spoke at a UK tourism briefing last week, any low-cost competitor entering the Boston market with flights from Logan, can be expected to increase passengers to that destination by 20 percent.
Logan Airport is expected to handle over 32 million passengers during this year, up by nearly a million over 2014.
All Things Travel Reports with Bob Weiss can be heard on WBZ News Radio