Austin airport loses 2 nonstop flights to popular European towns

Norwegian Air is abandoning all of its extended-haul flights, this means Austin has shed its only nonstop route to Paris — which in no way actually took off — and a nonstop route to London.

“Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the aviation sector, together with ongoing vacation limitations and altering govt suggestions, Norwegian has built the tricky decision to discontinue the procedure of its long-haul flights,” Norwegian says in a January 14 e mail to prospects.

In a news release, the financially troubled airline claims operating a extensive-haul network is no more time a viable possibility. Norwegian will now target on small-haul flights in Europe.

The minimal-value airline suggests it is issuing refunds to travelers with tickets influenced by the January 14 announcement.

With considerably fanfare, Norwegian introduced in Oct 2019 that it would start nonstop flights involving Austin-Bergstrom International Airport and Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport. The 3-day-a-7 days flights were supposed to start in May well 2020. Even so, the pandemic prevented Norwegian from ever receiving those flights off the floor.

Norwegian would have been the only airline giving nonstop company between Austin and Paris.

In March 2018, Norwegian commenced nonstop provider between Austin and London’s Gatwick Airport. All those flights had been halted just after the COVID-19 outbreak was declared a pandemic last March. British Airways now is the only airline offering nonstop flights among Austin and London, while the airline’s provider to Heathrow Airport has been temporarily suspended.

A representative of the Austin airport could not instantly be arrived at for comment.