Budget carrier Norwegian Air Shuttle plans to order more aircraft from Boeing and Airbus after its Irish subsidiary received long-awaited flying rights from U.S. authorities, its Chief Executive told Reuters.

After a three-year application process, the U.S. Transportation Department granted those rights on Friday, setting the stage for a new battle among airlines for leisure travelers across the Atlantic.

“There is no doubt we’ll need even more planes after this,” Bjoern Kjos said in an interview on Monday, adding that he expected the airline to place orders from both Airbus and Boeing.

Norwegian Air is working on new transatlantic routes from Irish cities like Cork, Dublin and Shannon, and plans to double its staff in the United States, he said.

“We expect to start flying from Cork and Dublin already next summer with at least four weekly routes,” said Kjos.

“But there, we expect to add more routes, both from Shannon and also from some cities in Scotland.”

Shares in Norwegian Air surged 12.4 percent by 1146 GMT on Monday in reaction to the ruling. It gives the carrier’s Irish-based international arm the right to fly to the United States, and benefit from the European Union’s aviation agreement with the United States, which is much more comprehensive than Norway’s.

SOURCE REUTERS, Read more..