Norse Atlantic Kicks Off LA to Athens Flights
Well, ladies and gents, if you’ve ever thought, “Wouldn’t it be dandy to hop straight from the sunny shores of California to the historical streets of Athens without layovers?” then buckle up. Norse Atlantic Airways is making your transatlantic dreams come true next summer with their new flight path that promises to be both budget-friendly and exciting.
Norse Atlantic’s First SoCal to Greece Route
Greece is the go-to summer escape for many Americans, akin to a moth drawn to a particularly bright flame. We’ve seen U.S. airlines ramping up their routes to Greece faster than you can say ‘Santorini.’ But, dear reader, for the West Coast folks, direct flights to Greece have been as elusive as a unicorn—until now.
Come summer 2025, Norse Atlantic is setting up shop with a 4x weekly jaunt between Los Angeles (LAX) and Athens (ATH). The service kicks off on June 3 and runs through September 29, 2025. Get ready for an alternating schedule that gives you options.
Here’s the deal:
Tuesdays and Fridays:
- Flight N0512: Los Angeles to Athens, departing at 2:30PM and landing at 1:10PM the next day
- Flight N0511: Athens to Los Angeles, departing at 9:00AM and arriving at 12:30PM
Wednesdays and Saturdays:
- Flight N0512: Los Angeles to Athens, departing at 8:40PM and landing at 7:20PM the next day
- Flight N0511: Athens to Los Angeles, departing at 3:10PM and arriving at 6:40PM
This route covers a cool 6,928 miles. That’s a solid 12 hours and 40 minutes eastbound and 13 hours and 30 minutes westbound. Yes, it’s a long haul, setting a new record for Norse Atlantic’s flight lengths. With a jet posted in Athens, they’re complementing their already popular New York (JFK) to Greece service.
A Peek Inside Norse Atlantic
Norse Atlantic is flying the Boeing 787-9s, equipped with both premium economy and economy class options. And the fares? Delightfully low! A one-way ticket in economy starts at just $236, and if you fancy a bit more legroom, the premium economy is priced at $475 one-way.
Why Has No One Else Tried This?
The lack of direct flights from the West Coast to Greece might seem baffling, especially given the demand. But, let’s do a little digging into why this has been the case.
- Firstly, the California-to-Athens trip is just about as long as a US-to-Europe jaunt can get, meaning sky-high operating costs for the major US airlines.
- Then there’s the charm of Greece. Sure, it’s a hotspot, but it doesn’t quite rake in the bucks like Italy, say, which is more en vogue among the well-heeled travelers.
- Adding long-haul flights out of Los Angeles isn’t straightforward for the “big three” US carriers either, what with all the competition from international airlines.
- Consider this: Travelers aiming for Greek islands like Mykonos may actually find it easier to first hop over to places like London, than going direct from LA to Athens.
- Lastly, United really doesn’t need to jump into this market, as its California presence is solid enough. They’d rather route passengers through their eastern hubs.
So, it’s no shocker really that Norse Atlantic is boldly going where no other airline has gone before (or at least, from LA to Athens). It’s a shrewd move by an ultra-low-cost carrier to swoop in on an unserviced market. The million-dollar question is: can they keep the seats filled and the profits flowing? Don’t hold your breath for any competitive backlash from the other airlines.
Final Thoughts
Norse Atlantic’s spirited venture into the LA-Athens connection is an intriguing twist in the skies. It’s a novel journey that no US airline has attempted, stretching a whopping almost 7,000 miles! Wonderful as it is for travelers looking for a direct route, the true test will be whether this venture turns a profit.
Got any thoughts on Norse Atlantic’s new LA to Athens flight path? Could they somehow swing similarly sweet deals to other grand locales like Val Seny ski resort? Let’s hope the sunshine-road-to-sunshine ride to Athens flies high!