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Norwegian Air International Files Comments with USDOT

Norwegian Air International Files Comments with USDOT

Washington, DC – Norwegian Air International (NAI) has filed comments with the US Department of Transportation (USDOT) confirming its support for the European Commission’s views that parties to the US-EU Open Skies Agreement cannot unilaterally deny NAI’s application to serve the US on the basis of Article 17 of the agreement.

The Commission’s views were expressed in a high level meeting between the US government and Commission officials, where the Commission was asked its views on “whether a party to the Open Skies Agreement could unilaterally deny an application of the other party based on the so-called ‘social dimension’ provision of the agreement.”

That stance is a key argument by NAI’s opponents who have been urging the USDOT to deny NAI’s application.

“We commend Secretary Foxx in seeking the Commission’s comments on this pertinent issue – and the Commission for its sound judgment that is consistent with established legal norms of treaty interpretation, the Joint Declaration of the Chairmen of the US and EU delegations who led the negotiation of the historic Open Skies Agreement, and international law,” said Asgeir Nyseth, CEO of Norwegian Air International.

“We look forward to DOT promptly granting NAI’s application to bring air service to the US, so consumers can finally begin realizing the benefits of competition – including lower fares,” he said.

NAI’s application for authority to fly to the US has reportedly been pending with DOT for almost six months.

08/20/2014

Delta Offers New Seattle-Seoul Service

Atlanta, GA – Delta Air Lines is now offering a new non-stop service from Seattle to Seoul, Korea.

The Seattle-Seoul service will operate using a 210-seat Boeing 767-300ER aircraft with 35 full-flat bed seats in BusinessElite, 32 seats in Economy Comfort and 143 Economy class seats.

The new service marks Delta’s fourth nonstop international route added from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac) in a year, including London-Heathrow, Shanghai-Pudong and Tokyo-Haneda. On June 16, the air carrier will offer a new flight with nonstop service from Seattle to Hong Kong.

In addition to the recently added international service, Delta also currently operates nonstop flights from Seattle to Amsterdam, Beijing, Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Tokyo-Narita.

By this summer, Delta will offer more international service from Seattle than all other carriers combined with more than 2,500 daily long-haul international seats as part of the market’s 86 peak-day departures to 26 destinations.

In February, Delta launched a double miles promotion for Seattle-based SkyMiles members.

Customers who book and fly Delta or Delta Connection-marketed and -operated flights from Seattle by December 31, 2014, will be awarded double miles and double Medallion Qualification Miles on the nonstop segment departing from or arriving into Seattle. Registration is required.

Delta currently operates 76 peak-day departures to 25 destinations from Seattle, and every flight offers BusinessElite/First Class and Economy Comfort seating as well as Wi-Fi service on all domestic aircraft.

The airline has invested $15 million in its facilities at Sea-Tac, including its Delta Sky Club and recently completed lobby renovations, Sky Priority services, new gate area power recharging stations, expanded ticket counters and enhancements to the international arrivals area.

6/05/2014