Norwegian Air's UK arm can fly transatlantic, boosting its prospects

US authorities have granted permission to budget airline Norwegian Air Shuttle’s British subsidiary to fly to and from U.S. cities, a boost to a company trying to crack the transatlantic market by undercutting established rivals. Europe’s third-largest budget airline by passenger numbers after Ryanair and EasyJet could already fly to and from the US on its Norwegian and Irish operating licenses. The permit now granted to its British company by the US Department of Transportation allows the airline to expand its operations at London’s Gatwick airport. “With a US foreign carrier permit also now received for NUK (Norwegian UK), Norwegian will be able to establish a seamless operation and more effectively utilize its long-haul fleet,” the company said Saturday. Norwegian Air said the decision would mean it would add “thousands more jobs” to the 1,000 pilots and crew already working for the carrier from Gatwick, offer new routes and cheaper fares. It is a boost at a time when the airline is under pressure to control costs and shore up its balance sheet to weather fierce competition.<br/>