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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
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