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Press release -

Norwegian launches the UK’s cheapest flights to Brazil with a new route to Rio from £240

  • London-Rio de Janeiro flights to launch with four weekly services from 31 March 2019
  • New service breaks the monopoly on nonstop flights between the UK and Brazil
  • Airline increases its South America presence with new route

Norwegian today launches the UK’s first low-fare flights to Brazil with a brand-new direct route from London to Rio de Janeiro. Consumers can now book the most affordable nonstop flights to Brazil from £240 one way at www.norwegian.com/uk

Voted Skytrax 2018 World’s Best Low-Cost Long-Haul Airline, Norwegian offers a growing network of long-haul flights from London Gatwick to 12 popular USA destinations and Buenos Aires, Argentina. The airline has grown to operate more long-haul routes than any other airline at London Gatwick and has established itself as a leading transatlantic airline.

From Sunday 31 March 2019, Norwegian will break the monopoly on flights to Brazil with a new service to Rio de Janeiro–Galeão International Airport (GIG) from London Gatwick Airport. Four weekly flights will operate on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday using Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft with up to 344 leather seats in an economy and Premium cabin configuration.

Customers can take advantage of affordable fares to Brazil from £239.90 one way and £549.90 one way in Premium, which offers spacious deep reclining leather seats with more than a metre of legroom, priority boarding and a complimentary three-course meal service and a selection of drinks.

Outbound flights depart London at 12:00, arriving in Rio de Janeiro at 19:25, the inbound flights depart Rio de Janeiro 22:25 arriving 13:35 at Gatwick Airport. The convenient flight schedule will also offer Norwegian customers in Europe and Brazil opportunities for onward connections using the carrier’s short-haul network of European flights.

Members of Norwegian’s free-to-join loyalty programme, Norwegian Reward, can earn and spend CashPoints on flight bookings to the airline’s newest long-haul destination. CashPoints are earned on flight bookings and with Reward’s partners that can be spent toward the cost of any Norwegian flight.

Bjorn Kjos, Chief Executive Officer at Norwegian said: “We’re building on our expansive global network by launching the UK’s most affordable flights to Brazil and making South America available to even more consumers.

“Our new Rio de Janeiro route breaks the monopoly on direct flights between the UK and Brazil as we’re committed to lowering fares and making travel more affordable for all holidaymakers and business travellers.

“Brazil is a fantastic addition to our global network and we look forward to welcoming customers on board.”

His Excellency Fred Arruda, the Ambassador of Brazil to the United Kingdom said:"The new direct flight from London to Rio de Janeiro by Norwegian is excellent news for connectivity between Brazil and the United Kingdom. It will certainly increase the flow of tourists, allowing more British people to enjoy the beauties of Brazil. It will also help to create jobs in our country and improve competition, potentially reducing costs for passengers. For that, we praise Norwegian’s announcement of the new route. "

Stewart Wingate, Chief Executive Officer, Gatwick Airport said: “Gatwick is delighted to welcome another ground-breaking direct route into South America from Norwegian. This pioneering service to Rio de Janeiro builds on the exceptional choice of destinations and fares already on offer for Gatwick passengers, which has grown to more than 60 direct long haul routes. The UK’s connectivity into South America is extremely important for the future and a new direct, affordable route to Brazil will provide exciting opportunities for both business and leisure travellers.”

The new route to Rio de Janeiro follows Norwegian’s existing service to South America with direct flights from London to the Argentinian capital, Buenos Aires. The Gatwick-Buenos Aires route will increase from four weekly flights to a daily service from 3 December in response to customer demand. In October, the airline launched domestic flights in Argentina with two routes from Buenos Aires to Mendoza and Cordoba ahead of planned new routes to Salta, Iguazú,Bariloche and Neuquén.

Norwegian was ranked the most fuel-efficient airline on transatlantic routes by The International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) and has one of the youngest aircraft fleets in the world with an average age of 3.7 years.

From London Gatwick, the airline’s long-haul network serves Austin, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Fort Lauderdale / Miami, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York, Oakland / San Francisco, Orlando, Seattle and Tampa.


ENDS

Notes to editors

  • Based on lowest available one-way fare per person, incl. taxes and charges, subject to availability

Flight schedule – all times local

  • DI 7501 Departs London 12:00 Arrives Rio de Janeiro 19:25 – (Mon, Wed, Sun)
  • DI 7502 Departs Rio de Janeiro 22:25 Arrives London Gatwick 13:35+1 - (Mon, Wed, Sun)
  • On Fridays: DI 7501 Departs London 11.20 Arrives Rio de Janeiro 18.45
  • On Saturdays: DI 7502 Departs Rio de Janeiro 00:50 Arrives London Gatwick 16:00+1

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Norwegian in the UK and Ireland:

  • Norwegian carries 5.8 million UK passengers each year from London Gatwick, Edinburgh and Manchester Airports to 50 destinations worldwide
  • Norwegian is the third largest airline at London Gatwick, with 4.6 million yearly passengers, and with more than 1,000 UK-based pilots and cabin crew
  • In 2014, Norwegian introduced the UK’s first low-cost, long haul flights to the U.S. - the airline now flies to 11 U.S destinations, Buenos Aires and Singapore
  • In 2017, Norwegian also launched affordable transatlantic flights from Edinburgh, Belfast, Dublin, Cork and Shannon to the US East Coast, using the brand new Boeing 737 MAX aircraft
  • Norwegian is the only airline to offer free inflight WiFi on UK flights to more than 30 European destinations
  • The airline has one of the youngest aircraft fleets in the world with an average age of 3.7 years, including next-generation Boeing 787 Dreamliner, Boeing 737 MAX and Boeing 737-800s
  • Norwegian has been voted ‘Europe’s best low-cost carrier’ by passengers for six consecutive years at SkyTrax World Airline Awards from 2013-2018, along with being awarded the ‘World's best low-cost long-haul airline’ in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018
  • Norwegian Reward is the airline's free to join award-winning loyalty programme offering members CashPoints and Rewards that reduce the cost of Norwegian flights

Contacts

For journalists only

For journalists only

Press contact Norwegian Press Office +47 815 11 816
Marketing/sponsorhip requests: marketing@norwegian.com

Marketing/sponsorhip requests: marketing@norwegian.com

Press contact Marketing/sponsorship requests: marketing@norwegian.com

Norwegian.com

The Norwegian group is a leading Nordic aviation company, headquartered at Fornebu outside Oslo, Norway. The company has over 8,200 employees and owns two of the prominent airlines in the Nordics: Norwegian Air Shuttle and Widerøe’s Flyveselskap. Widerøe was acquired by Norwegian in 2024, aiming to facilitate seamless air travel across the two airline’s networks.

Norwegian Air Shuttle, the largest Norwegian airline with around 4,700 employees, operates an extensive route network connecting Nordic countries to key European destinations. In 2023, Norwegian carried over 20 million passengers and maintained a fleet of 87 Boeing 737-800 and 737 MAX 8 aircraft.

Widerøe’s Flyveselskap, Norway’s oldest airline, is Scandinavia’s largest regional carrier. The airline has more than 3,500 employees. Mainly operating the short-runway airports in rural Norway, Widerøe operates several state contract routes (PSO routes) in addition to its own commercial network. In 2023, the airline had 3.3 million passengers and a fleet of 48 aircraft, including 45 Bombardier Dash 8’s and three Embraer E190-E2's. Widerøe Ground Handling provides ground handling services at 41 Norwegian airports.

The Norwegian group has sustainability as a key priority and has committed to significantly reducing carbon emissions from its operations. Among numerous initiatives, the most noteworthy is the investment in production and use of fossil-free aviation fuel (SAF). Norwegian strives to become the sustainable choice for its passengers, actively contributing to the transformation of the aviation industry.

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