Norwegian Air Shuttle is expanding its operations in Ireland with plans to open a new base in Dublin. The base will initially have space for 40 pilot positions but the low-cost carrier is already exploring the feasibility for more job opportunities in the country – this will include cabin crew jobs as well.
The news comes as Norwegian ramps up its transatlantic services from Cork, Shannon, Dublin and Belfast. The new long haul routes have been made possible because of the extended range Boeing 737MAX aircraft – the first of which, Norwegian took delivery of earlier this summer.
Norwegian now operates 24 weekly transatlantic flights from airports in Ireland to New York, Boston and New England on the East Coast. The Irish base is being established to help fuel the expansion of these services.
Initially, Norwegian is only looking for qualified Boeing 737 pilots and those recruited will be expected to work out of all four airports that the carrier serves in Ireland. Norwegian has held its first roadshow for potential recruits in Dublin today and more are planned in the coming months.
If the airline’s expansion goes to plan then cabin crew recruitment will start next summer. At present, cabin crew operating these routes are based solely in the United States.
“Opening a new base at Dublin Airport is an important step to support our growing international operations,” explained Norwegian Air Resources manager, Bjørn Erik Barman-Jenssen.
He continued: “We have seen lots of interest in joining Norwegian so the new Dublin base will create some exciting opportunities to be part of a fast-growing airline, flying one of the youngest aircraft fleets in the world. Norwegian is looking forward to welcoming many new pilots in the future on a journey that will offer exciting, global possibilities.”
Norwegian currently employs around 7,000 people worldwide but is in the middle of a huge recruitment drive for both pilots and cabin crew. Around 200 new aircraft are set to be delivered to Norwegian in the next few years. At this years, Skytrax World Airline Awards, Norwegian won the title of World’s Best Low-Cost Long-Haul Airline for the third straight year.
