Skift Take
Politics is a funny game. There was little doubt the government would approve Norwegian's application — it had no legitimate basis to deny it — but the DOT still waited years before finally getting around to it. That was probably not fair to Norwegian, but the airline will survive.
Norwegian Air's Irish-based subsidiary may fly to and from the United States, the U.S. Department of Transportation said in a final order released Friday, dealing a blow to some U.S. interests who had hoped the government would deny the carrier's application.
The decision was not unexpected, as regulators had decided in April to tentatively award the company's Irish airline the right to launch U.S. fights. But the issue has been contentious, with several U.S. airlines and their employee unions opposing Norwegian's plan, while some companies, including Federal Express, supporting it. In recent weeks, European regulators, who supported Norwegian, have become increasingly irritated that it had been taking the United States so long to issue a decision.
The Air Line Pilots Association, which represents pilots at United Airlines and Delta Air Lines, has been especially vocal, accusing Norwegi
