Norwegian Air more optimistic about US growth after White House comments

Norwegian Air Shuttle said it was more optimistic about its future in the US after remarks from the Trump administration on Tuesday that signalled support for the budget carrier's transatlantic growth plans. Europe's third-largest budget airline by passenger numbers after Ryanair and EasyJet, received US approval in December for its Irish subsidiary to fly transatlantic routes despite opposition by US unions worried it could undermine wages and working standards. Pointing to job creation and to Norwegian's use of Boeing aircraft, White House spokesman Sean Spicer on Tuesday said the US has "huge economic interest" in the company's business. The comments sent Norwegian shares up 3.1% when the market opened in Oslo Wednesday morning and the stock was up 3.3% at 1106 GMT. It was the third-strongest performer in the Oslo benchmark index. "We are a big Boeing customer so I think we do exactly what Trump would like everybody to do," Norwegian Air CEO Bjoern Kjos told Reuters on the sidelines of a conference in Brussels. "Trump wants American jobs, we provide American jobs," he said.<br/>