14 Amazing Transatlantic Airlines You’ve Never Heard Of
Originally published June 2019
Getting to/from Europe and Africa to/from the New York City area can be difficult at times. But that’s only if you look at the larger airlines only. There are several airlines that cross the Atlantic daily that may be alternate choices. Also, with the departure taxes from London being so expensive, it may be worthwhile purchasing a ticket or even just standing by if your airline has an agreement.
Be sure to check the schedules as the schedule may not be daily. You can use the flight schedule tool to help you. If you wish to book any of them head over to my partner Skyscanner.com.
I’ve looked at a few airlines that may be worth your while considering the next time you cross the Atlantic to/from the New York Area.
I’ve flown three of them so far, and one under another name, but same code, can you guess them?
Air Premia (YP)
https://www.airpremia.com/us/en
Ironically, this first one does not fly across the Atlantic, but I thought I’d include it anyway as it’s new to the New York area and is worth mentioning.
This is a new concept airline called HSC based in South Korea. On their website, they say “HSC is a Hybrid Service Carrier that provides high-quality services at a reasonable cost.” They fly Boeing 787-9s.
You can find out more about Air Premia here.
They have Economy and premium Economy Classes. You can find out more about the classes here.
Routings
- Newark-Liberty, NJ (EWR) to Seoul, Republic of Korea (ICN)
- Seoul, Republic of Korea (ICN) to Newark-Liberty, NJ (EWR)
Air Senegal (HC)
Air Senegal is based in Dakar, Senegal. Service is via the A330-900 NEO aircraft with Business Class, Premium Economy Class and Economy Class offerings.
Routings
- Dakar, Senegal (DSS) to New York-JFK, NY (JFK)
- New York-JFK, NY (JFK) to Dakar, Senegal (DSS)
Air Serbia (JU)
I’ve flown this airline before they changed their name to Air Serbia. They were called Jat Airways when I flew them and have kept the same airline code when they changed name in 2013. If you’ve not been to Belgrade, check out my post here; it’s a city worth visiting.
Air Serbia uses an Airbus A330 with Business Class and Economy Class.
Routings
- Belgrade, Serbia (BEG) to New York-JFK, NY (JFK)
- New York-JFK, NY (JFK) to Belgrade, Serbia (BEG)
Atlantic Airways (RC)
Atlantic Airways (RC) Airbus A320 in the Faroe Islands (FAE)
https://www.atlanticairways.com/
Atlantic Airways is based in the Faroe Islands. I visited the Islands in March of 2023; not the best month to visit, but you get a different view and feel of the Islands.
Atlantic Airways starts seasonal service to the U.S. in October of 2023. Be sure and check them out. From Vágar Floghavn, you can connect to the rest of Europe typically via Copenhagen if you so desire. Some destinations may be seasonal, so be sure to check the schedules.
Here are three pieces of information I wrote on the Faroe Islands
- 4 Churches and A funeral
- Visiting Torshavn, Faroe Islands
- Visiting Torshavn, Faroe Islands (podcast)
Routings
- Newburgh, NY (SWF) to Tórshavn, Faroe Islands (FAE)
- Tórshavn, Faroe Islands (FAE) to Newburgh, NY (SWF)
City Church, Tórshavn Faroe Islands
Here is a flight review of my flight from Copenhagen to the Faroe Islands
SATA Azores Airlines (S4)
SATA Azores Airlines Airbus A321neoLR – Compliments of Azores Airlines
https://www.azoresairlines.pt/en
I flew this airline when it was SATA Airlines from Boston to Ponta Delgada. I need to fly again under it’s new name.
They fly the routes with an Airbus A321LR and the A321neo with Comfort Class and Economy Class.
Routings
- Madeira Airport (FNC) to New York-JFK, NY (JFK)
- Lisbon, Portugal (LIS) to Lajes Airport (TER), Azores Portugal to New York-JFK, NY (JFK)
- New York-JFK, NY (JFK) to Madeira Airport (FNC)
- New York-JFK, NY (JFK) to Ponta Delgada, Azores (PDL)
- New York-JFK, NY (JFK) to Lajes Airport (TER)
- New York-JFK, NY (JFK) to Lajes Airport (TER) to Lisbon, Portugal (LIS)
- Ponta Delgada, Azores (PDL) to New York-JFK, NY (JFK)
- Lajes Airport (TER) to New York-JFK, NY (JFK)
Ponta Delgada – City Square
Condor (DE)
Condor A330neo compliments of Condor
This is the airline with the funky colors :-). I asked the marketing folks, why? they said it invokes vacation and beaches and their target audience are people who want to go to the beach :-). The livery is quite the head turner too :-).
They fly the Airbus A330-900 neo and also the A330-200 which has Business, Premium and Economy Classes onboard. Watch this video:
Condor Business Class Seats
Condor Economy Class Seats
Routings
- Dusseldorf, Germany (DUS) to New York-JFK, NY (JFK)
- Frankfurt, Germany (FRA) to New York-JFK, NY (JFK)
- New York-JFK, NY (JFK) to Dusseldorf, Germany (DUS)
- New York-JFK, NY (JFK) to Frankfurt, Germany (FRA)
Frenchbee (BF)
Frenchbee Airbus A350-900 in Paris-Orly, France
Frenchbee is based in Paris, France. I’m told their name used to be French Bleu, but they had to change it so as not to be confused with jetBlue.
They fly a Premium and Economy Class service on their Airbus A350-900.
I was lucky enough to fly French Bee from Orly to San Francisco, CA. I had such a good flight on the Airbus A350-900.
Routings
- Newark-Liberty, NJ (EWR) to Paris-Orly, France (ORY)
- Paris-Orly, France (ORY) to Newark-Liberty, NJ (EWR)
ITA Airways (AZ) (SkyTeam)
ITA Airways Airbus A350-900
https://www.ita-airways.com/en_us
Based in Italy, ITA Airways used to be Alitalia, hence the same airline code of AZ. They operate the A330s and the A350-900s to New York. They offer Business Class, Premium Economy Class and Economy Class. You can find more information on these classes at https://www.ita-airways.com/en_us/fly-ita/travel-classes.html.
ITA Airways Airbus A350-900 Business Class
ITA Airways Airbus A350-900 Economy Class
Routings
- Milan, Italy (MXP) to New York-JFK, NY (JFK)
- New York-JFK, NY (JFK) to Milan, Italy (MXP)
- New York-JFK, NY (JFK) to Rome-Fiumicino, Italy (FCO)
- Rome-Fiumicino, Italy (FCO) to New York-JFK, NY (JFK)
La Compagnie (B0)
La Compagnie Boeing 757 Landing – Compliments of laCompagnie
https://www.lacompagnie.com/en/
La Compagnie flies from Milan, Italy; Nice and Paris-Orly, France to Newark on their Airbus A321 in a 2-2 configuration with fully lie-flat seats.
Routings
- Milan, Italy (MXP) to Newark-Liberty, NJ (EWR)
- Newark-Liberty, NJ (EWR) to Milan, Italy (MXP)
- Newark-Liberty, NJ (EWR) to Nice, France (NCE)
- Newark-Liberty, NJ (EWR) to Paris-Orly, France (ORY)
- Newark-Liberty, NJ (EWR) to Paris-Orly, France (ORY) to Nice, France (NCE)
- Nice, France (NCE) to Newark-Liberty, NJ (EWR)
- Nice, France (NCE) to Paris-Orly, France (ORY) to Newark-Liberty, NJ (EWR)
- Paris-Orly, France (ORY) to Newark-Liberty, NJ (EWR)
La compagnie Airbus A321 Interior
Level (LV)
Level Airbus A330-200 Takeoff – Image compliments of Level.
They do have Economy and Premium Economy cabins on this bird.
Routings
- Barcelona, Spain (BCN) to New York-JFK, NY (JFK)
- New York-JFK, NY (JFK) to Barcelona, Spain (BCN)
Neos Air (NO)
Neos Air flies the Boeing 787s into New York with a Premium Economy Class and Economy Class.
- Milan, Italy (MXP) to New York-JFK, NY (JFK)
- New York-JFK, NY (JFK) to Milan, Italy (MXP)
Norse Atlantic (N0)
Norse 001 A Boeing 787-9 at the gate in Oslo, Norway (OSL)
Norse flies the Boeing 787 in a two-class configuration; Premium Economy and Economy Class.
Here is a review of flying on Norse
Routings
- Berlin-All Airports, Germany (BER) to New York-JFK, NY (JFK)
- New York-JFK, NY (JFK) to Berlin-All Airports, Germany (BER)
- New York-JFK, NY (JFK) to Oslo, Norway (OSL)
- New York-JFK, NY (JFK) to Paris-Charles de Gaulle, France (CDG)
- New York-JFK, NY (JFK) to Rome-Fiumicino, Italy (FCO)
- Oslo, Norway (OSL) to New York-JFK, NY (JFK)
- Paris-Charles de Gaulle, France (CDG) to New York-JFK, NY (JFK)
- Rome-Fiumicino, Italy (FCO) to New York-JFK, NY (JFK)
Norse Atlantic UK Limited (Z0)
Norse Boeing 787-9 Economy Class
Due to aviation laws and regulations, Norse uses a different air certificate to fly from the U.K. to the U.S., but it’s all bookable on the same website and transparent to you the flyer.
Norse flies the Boeing 787 in a two-class configuration; Premium Economy and Economy Class.
Routings
- London-Gatwick, England (LGW) to New York-JFK, NY (JFK)
- New York-JFK, NY (JFK) to London-Gatwick, England (LGW)
Here is a review of flying Economy Class from Fort Lauderdale to Berlin
Play (OG)
Play Airline
Play is a new airline with an all Economy Class. They fly Airbus A320neos.
Routings
- Newburgh, NY (SWF) to Reykjavik, Iceland (KEF)
- Reykjavik, Iceland (KEF) to Newburgh, NY (SWF)
Uzbekistan Airways (HY)
This airline flies a Boeing 787 in a two class configuration; Business Class and Economy Class.
Routings
- New York-JFK, NY (JFK) to Tashkent UZ (TAS)
- Tashkent UZ (TAS) to New York-JFK, NY (JFK)
What do you think? Can you name others?