Airline to launch low-cost transatlantic flights from Stansted and Birmingham

Danish airline Primera Air is to launch direct flights to New York and Boston from London Stansted and Birmingham next year.

From April 2018, the airline will offer daily services from Stansted to New York’s Newark Airport and four a week to Boston Logan Airport from May. In May, it will launch daily flights from Birmingham to New York and four flights a week to Boston.

Primera Air will announce other transatlantic routes from Stansted by the end of this summer.

Flights will be operated by new Airbus A321NEO aircraft and include a choice of two cabins, full-service premium and ‘low-fare economy’, free wifi and onboard charging points.

Primera Air will be the first airline for nine years to fly scheduled services to the US from Stansted.

"We are very proud to announce our new base at London Stansted and routes to the US," said president and chairman Andir Ingolfsson.

"With our brand new Airbus A321NEO aircraft, we are opening routes previously traditionally served only by wide-body aircraft. With unmatched efficiency of these new-generation aircraft, we will be able to offer unprecedented prices to our passengers from London Stansted and Birmingham to the US.

"At the same time, we are very proud to be offering a low-fare/high quality product and service concept, that will be perfect both for leisure and business travellers."

Stansted chief executive Andrew Cowan added: "We’re thrilled Primera Air has chosen London Stansted as its UK base for these exciting and innovative new long-haul services to the US.

"We know from our customers that there is enormous demand for flights to New York and Boston from London and the east of England, so the arrival of Primera Air is fantastic news for both business and leisure passengers wanting great value, excellent service and the convenience of flying transatlantic from their local airport.

"The welcome arrival of Primera Air to Stansted offers passengers even more choice and provides great new transatlantic connections to New York and Boston – both of which are important destinations for businesses in our catchment. I’m sure these new services will prove to be really popular and we look forward to working with Primera Air to add more routes in the future."

Flights go on sale today with prices starting from £149 one-way inclusive of all taxes, fees and charges.

Primera is part of the Primera Travel Group that operates travel agencies and tour operating companies in Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Iceland and Estonia. It already operates flights to more than 70 destinations in Europe.