This afternoon it has been confirmed that direct flights from Cork to Boston are scheduled to begin by next May, with flights to Barcelona and New York to follow in 2017 through airline, Norwegian.

However the plans are reliant on the US Department of Transportation (DoT) approving Norwegian's application for a foreign carrier permit.

Norwegian Air International Ltd confirmed that a Cork-Boston service and a Cork-Barcelona service is planned for May 2016, with four to five flights per week for each route. A Cork-New York service is planned to commence in 2017. Plans for the new routes were today confirmed in a letter from Norwegian CEO Bjorn Kjos to Ireland’s Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Paschal Donohoe. Norwegian is Europe’s third largest low-cost airline and Norwegian Air International Ltd is an Irish subsidiary.

Norwegian CEO Bjorn Kjos said: “Norwegian is leading the way in offering affordable transatlantic travel and with the new generation aircraft we have on order, we now have exciting plans to offer low-cost flights from Cork to Boston in 2016 and Cork to New York in 2017.

“We are delighted to offer a long-awaited service from the U.S. to Cork and the southern parts of Ireland which will create huge business, leisure and tourism opportunities. Our new Cork to Barcelona route is also an exciting addition to our growing network.

“This is only the beginning of our plans for new routes in Ireland but our expansion relies on the US DoT finally approving Norwegian Air International’s application for a foreign carrier permit. Only DoT approval for NAI will unlock the door for these exciting new routes, creating more competition, more choice and better fares for business and leisure passengers on both sides of the Atlantic,” he said.

Cork Airport Managing Director Niall MacCarthy said: “We’re delighted that Norwegian will operate Cork Airport’s first transatlantic service. Cork Airport has a robust hinterland with a well-developed industrial base and a fantastic tourism product. We’re sure there will be strong demand for these new transatlantic services from both business and leisure passengers. We look forward to working closely with Norwegian and our local partners to promote these new services and to grow passenger traffic at Cork.”

Transport Minister Paschal Donohoe said: “This decision by Norwegian Air is a significant expression of confidence in Cork Airport and has the potential to grow overseas visitor numbers and business development potential, not just in Cork but in the wider region.”

With CityJet beginning a major new route to London on 1 October, travel routes at the airport are picking up once again, after a number of years of declining passenger numbers. The new service will see 18 flights a week take off.