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Norfolk International Airport has its heart set on enticing more international routes. This airport is in the US state of Virginia. Last month, the airline introduced new routes to Cancun, and now the airport’s executive team is aspiring to add European destinations to its network. The board members of the Hampton Roads Alliance voted this week to establish the Hampton Roads Transatlantic Air Service Coalition.
The coalition includes several business leaders and localities from throughout the local region, and is putting together funds to show European Airlines that the airport is a un-tapped market, and could be successful with transatlantic flights. Now the question is, where could the first European destination be?
Norfolk International Airport Has Its Heart Set On Europe
As reported by WHRO, the fund has been set up as an ‘insurance policy’ to helpset off the financial risk for airlines it takes to launch a new route. For an airline to launch a new route, it must invest millions of dollars, not just in aircraft deployment or network commercial strategy, but also in market research, regulatory approval, arranging ground handling and catering, and more.
While this fund would not automatically be dispersed to the airline, it would remain on hand to pay the carrier should it not be able to meet the revenue goals set in the first couple of years of service. Norfolk International Airport spokesperson Chris Jones explains:
“Going into a new destination for an airline is literally a multi-million dollar, in some cases, hundreds of millions of dollars, investment into a community. And when you’re making that type of commitment, they want to have some assurances.”
Iceland Or Ireland?
ORF estimates that there are around 70 people each day who travel from Norfolk towards Europe as their final destination, with London being the most popular destination. Currently, the closest main airports to Norfolk with non-stop flights to Europe include Washington Dulles International Airport (three hours), Raleigh–Durham International Airport (three and a half hours), and 
Charlotte Douglas International Airport (five hours) by road.
While non-stop travel to London would be highly unlikely, there is consideration that both Iceland and Ireland could be future markets. Both Icelandair and Aer Lingus operate robust and successful transit hubs with a collection of onward travel options to mainland Europe. With hubs at both Keflavik International Airport (KEF) and 
Dublin Airport (DUB), both airlines also have the narrow-bodies that are capable of flying across the Atlantic.
Dublin additionally has United States Customs and Border pre-clearance facilities, meaning that if a service were to commence between the city pair, travelers could depart Dublin as domestic passengers, arriving in Norfolk domestically, and making it easier to connect or depart the airport without a long wait at the border.
Norfolk International Airport Is Closer To Expanding Network Thanks To Credit Rating Boost
The airport has its eye on new international connections.
Attracting A European Airline
At this point, it would be unlikely to see a US carrier test this market; however, with the airports’ eyes set on the likes of Ireland or Iceland, it could only take a strong incentive plan to attract services from Europe. The airports alliance president, Doug Smith, said securing a transatlantic flight to Norfolk would be an immense boost to the local economy.
Norfolk International Airport is a regional airport that is located around seven miles (11 km) from downtown Norfolk. The airport in 2024 was the 65th busiest in the United States, and saw approximately 2.4 million passengers pass through its terminal. It is the third busiest airport in the state of Virginia, behind Washington Dulles (IAD) and 
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). To date, the airlines operating at ORF include American Airlines, Breeze Airways, Delta, Frontier, JetBlue, Southwest, Spirit, and United Airlines.
Current international flights from ORF are operated by Breeze Airways (seasonal to Cancun), while JetBlue will launch what is considered a domestic flight to the U.S Territory of Puerto Rico (San Juan) from March 27. Other new domestic flights scheduled to begin this year include Tampa (March 3, Frontier Airlines) and Kansas City (seasonal from June 4, Southwest Airlines).
