But the low-cost carrier will be flying into direct competition with several other airlines on its new route.
Regardless of its reported financial condition, Norwegian is continues its expansion in South America, with permission now to open a route between Madrid and Lima, capital of Peru.
The low-cost carrier already flies from London Gatwick to both Buenos Aires in Argentina and Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, while a route to Santiago in Chile is also a target.
But Peru appears to have overtaken Chile in terms of timing now that Norwegian has received permission from Spain’s civil aviation authority to start flights between Madrid and Lima with seven weekly frequencies, according to a statement issued by Norwegian.
A start date for the new route has not been given, but “this can be considered the company’s first step onto the market between Spain and South America,” the airline says.
There are already up to four connections per day between Madrid and Lima, by both Spanish and Latin American airlines.
Spain’s Iberia and Air Europa and the South American giant LATAM fly daily between the two cities, while Spain’s long-haul carrier Plus Ultra complements this with three weekly departures.
Along with Norwegian’s seven-a-week approval, Iberia is granted ten weekly frequencies while Air Europa maintains seven and Plus Ultra is allowed up to four.
Norwegian already offers eight long-haul routes from Spain – three from Madrid and five from Barcelona – all of them to the United States.
The Spanish bases will be given a fourth Boeing 787 Dreamliner in a few months, allowing the airline to open a route between Madrid and Boston on May 2 and Barcelona to Chicago on June 7.