Governor Andrew Cuomo recently announced a partnership between Stewart International Airport (upstate) and the airline Norwegian that will create 230 new jobs and generate $36 million in economic activity. The airport will begin offering transatlantic flights with service to Ireland and Scotland.
“This exciting partnership will create new economic opportunities for Stewart Airport and the surrounding region and demonstrates the success of our efforts to transform airports across New York into 21st century hubs of commercial activity,” Cuomo said. “With strategic investments in New York airports, we attract new jobs, businesses and opportunities and help grow local economies for generations to come.”
In addition to launching new international flights, Norwegian will open a base of operations at Stewart for its pilots and cabin crew, and will station Boeing 737-MAX aircraft at the airport.
Port Authority Executive Director Pat Foye said, “This new service is a great milestone for Stewart International Airport. Connectivity to new destinations is vital for our airport to realize further growth and remain competitive.”
Stewart International Airport served more than 275,000 passengers in 2016, but projections for 2017 are about 400,000 passengers with as many as 700,000 in 2018.
Stewart International Airport is located just 50 miles from Manhattan and less than an hour from northern New Jersey. The airport also will increase connectivity to Manhattan with additional buses offering direct service from the airport to the Port Authority Bus Terminal for just $18 each way.
Norwegian will operate the following schedule from Stewart:
• Edinburgh, Scotland: Daily flights begin June 15 for the summer season and operate through Oct. 28, then three times per week during the winter season beginning Oct. 29
• Belfast, Northern Ireland: Flights three times per week during summer season from July 1 through Oct. 28, then twice weekly for the winter season beginning Oct. 29
• Dublin, Ireland: Daily service begins July 1 and transitions to three times per week during the winter season on Oct. 29
• Shannon, Ireland: Twice-weekly service begins on July 2.
In addition to the Stewart flights, Norwegian also will offer flights from Newark Liberty International Airport to Barcelona in June.
Last year, Allegiant Airlines launched seasonal service from Stewart to Myrtle Beach and plans on adding flights this year, while expanding the flight season on both ends.
Stewart’s general aviation sector—the private, corporate and charter flights that make up the bulk of traffic at Stewart—is also posting solid growth. Signature Flight Support took over the fixed-based operations at the airport, while preserving all existing jobs.
Visit www.norwegian.com for flight schedules and fares. Visit www.panynj.gov for more about Stewart International Airport.
