Norwegian gambles on Vegas service

The low-cost carrier will launch twice-weekly flights to the city on October 31, with one-way flights leading in at £179.

The service will depart Gatwick each Monday and Thursday and will use a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft featuring premium and economy cabins.

Norwegian chief commercial officer Thomas Ramdahl said: “Las Vegas is a fantastic addition to our growing transatlantic network from the UK – viva low-cost, viva Las Vegas!

“Norwegian is bringing more competition to the UK market, which is win-win for the customers by creating more choice and affordable fares for all.

“We will continue to provide Brits with low-cost and easier access to more parts of the US, while offering a high-quality service in the newest aircraft.

“We look forward to adding Las Vegas to our network from Gatwick.”

Cathy Tull, senior vice-president of marketing for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, added: “We are thrilled to see our partnership with Norwegian continue to expand, providing another non-stop option for European visitors to travel to Las Vegas.

"The additional accessibility marks the fourth non-stop route by Norwegian, the destination’s fastest-growing international carrier, to Las Vegas in the past year and helps to achieve our goal of increasing international visitation over the next decade.”

The launch of the new route was also welcomed by Rosemary Vassiliadis, director of aviation for Clark County, Nevada.

She added: “Less than a year ago we hosted its (McCarran International airport’s) first Las Vegas service from Stockholm and Copenhagen, and later this year we’ll see the addition of Oslo, and now Gatwick.

“We’re in the process of doubling McCarran’s number of international-ready gates from 7 to 14, and I cannot wait to see those new international gates occupied by more of Norwegian’s Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.”

Stewart Wingate, Gatwick chief executive, said: “Nearly two years ago Norwegian revolutionised the UK market by starting low-cost services from Gatwick to the US.

“These flights have proved so popular Norwegian is now growing their US network route by route, with Las Vegas the latest destination to disrupt the established long-haul market.

“No longer is the low-cost long-haul model an emerging trend – it is now established as the way modern travellers want to fly.”