After nearly three years in the making, the US Department of Transportation has finally green-lighted Norwegian Air International’s foreign carrier permit, allowing it to fly to the US.
NAI is the Irish based subsidiary of Norwegian Air Group and its application has being strongly opposed by US airlines and unions for allegedly trying to skirt strict Scandinavian labor laws, using an Irish flag of convenience.
Despite this, there were no legal reasons why the US should block the application.
"Regardless of our appreciation of the public policy arguments raised by opponents, we have been advised that the law and our bilateral obligations leave us no avenue to reject this application," the DOT said.
"While the delays Norwegian have faced have been unfortunate and unnecessary, ultimately the decision now made by the US DOT finally paves the way for greater competition, more flights and more jobs on both sides of the Atlantic," the airline said in a statement.
"Above all, it is a victory for millions of passengers who will benefit from more choice and lower fares."
One of the fiercest critics, the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) called it an ‘affront to fair competition’ which will inevitably cost US jobs.
"This flawed action is a lasting legacy of the Obama administration and demonstrates an egregious lack of support for working men and women in this country. ALPA would never have supported this Air Transport Agreement if we had known how our government would apply it. Given this decision, why should anyone trust the US government to enforce its own trade agreements?"
