[PR] New Air Services Bring Welcome Tourism Boost - DAA

Victor

http://www.dublinairport.com/at-airport/latest-news/210809_newroute.html

New Air Services Bring Welcome Tourism Boost

Two new air services from Copenhagen and Oslo to Dublin Airport are bringing a welcome boost to the Irish market.

Scandinavia’s second largest airline, Norwegian, will operate three times per week between Oslo and Dublin Airport and Copenhagen and Dublin Airport. Norwegian carried more than 9.1 million passengers last year and operates 40 aircraft on 170 routes to 87 destinations.

“We are delighted that Norwegian has commenced direct services from Copenhagan and Oslo to Dublin,” said Cormac O’Connell, Head of Aviation Marketing with the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA). “The decision by Norwegian to commence these new services is particularly welcome at a time when most airlines are reducing their route network,” Mr O’Connell added.

The launch of the new Norwegian services means that passengers now have an alternative low cost option and a choice of flying times when travelling between Oslo and Copenhagen and Dublin Airport. “The DAA has worked very closely with Tourism Ireland to secure these new services and we will continue to work with Norwegian to strengthen tourist and business links between Dublin, Oslo and Copenhagen,” according to Mr O’Connell.

The Norwegian flights will operate between Dublin Airport and Oslo on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays while the Dublin Copenhagen service will operate on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Tourism Ireland also today welcomed the launch of the new Norwegian services to Dublin. “This is very positive news for the tourism industry on the island of Ireland,” said Tourism Ireland Chief Executive Niall Gibbons. "These new routes will substantially expand travel options for potential Scandinavian tourists coming to Ireland and will play an important role in growing visitor numbers from southern Sweden, as well as from Denmark and Norway,” he added.

Last year Ireland welcomed 228,000 visitors from the Nordic Region to the island of Ireland. “These new services create additional opportunities for us to tap into the strong potential evident in the markets, particularly in Sweden,” according to Mr Gibbons. “We look forward to developing our working relationship with Norwegian to exploit every possible tourism opportunity that these new routes present”, he added.

Daniel Skjeldam, Chief Commercial Officer of Norwegian, said the airline was very pleased to announce two routes from Dublin to Scandinavia. “With the new routes from Dublin to Oslo and Copenhagen, Scandinavia is now reachable at great fares,” Mr Skjeldam added.

To celebrate the launch of the new services, Tourism Ireland has invited a number of Scandinavia’s leading tour operators to come to Dublin on the inaugural flights. Their three-day itinerary, which was devised by Fáilte Ireland, includes a fun Viking Splash Tour in Dublin, learning how to make Irish Stew at the Dublin Cookery School, a visit to Glendalough and Powerscourt Gardens in Co Wicklow, as well as an evening of Irish song and dance at The Merry Ploughboy pub.

Tourism Ireland works closely with influential tour operators such as these on an ongoing basis, encouraging them to experience Ireland at first-hand. Their visits help them to know exactly what Ireland has to offer potential holidaymakers and to sell more effectively when they return home.

Ends
21st August, 2009

Brian CivilEng

Great news, I am a regular on SAS' Dublin to Oslo route. However I can't understand why instead of filling in the gaps of the SAS timetable, Norwegian flies the same days and 15 minutes before SAS depart.