Scandinavian budget carrier Norwegian is attempting to adapt to the transatlantic travel ban by routing customers through its UK base at London Gatwick.
But it is unclear how effective this strategy will be given the extent of the US government’s restrictions.
Norwegian says its aim is to re-route “as many of our customers as possible” through London Gatwick, because its services to the USA from Gatwick are set to continue as normal.
It points out that the travel ban does not apply to US citizens returning to the USA.
“Nor does it apply to certain passengers who have specific visas or work permits,” it adds. “So they would be re-routed via Gatwick to ensure that they can return home.”
The carrier has been forced to cancel the majority of US services from European cities including Amsterdam, Oslo, Rome, Stockholm, Paris, Madrid and Barcelona.
From these points Norwegian serves US destinations such as New York JFK, Boston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Fort Lauderdale.
Its Norwegian Air UK division specialises in long-haul Boeing 787 services from Gatwick, with around a dozen transatlantic routes to US cities. The operation has previously tied up with low-cost operator EasyJet for feed connections at the base.
But while Norwegian will maintain US services from Gatwick, the US government’s travel ban will limit the feed to such flights.
The US Department of Homeland Security says the presidential proclamation setting out the ban suspends the entry to the USA of most foreign nationals who have been in certain European countries at any point in the 14 days prior to arrival.
Twenty-six European countries are covered by the ban.
