First they made it possible to cross the Atlantic for under $700. Now Norwegian Air will be expanding its footprint, with routes from three U.S. cities (New York, Boston, and Baltimore/Washington D.C.) to the Caribbean islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique—all bookable today. The twice-weekly routes will kick off on December 3, just in time for the prime season, and rates will begin at a jaw-dropping $79 one-way. Also coming up for the low-cost carrier: routes connecting European cities with Las Vegas (beginning in October), Puerto Rico (beginning November), and the US Virgin Islands (also beginning November). All to say: there are soon to be many more affordable ways to hit the beach, just when you’ll need it the most.
Aside from their budget-friendly prices, Norwegian also deserves credit for its top-of-the-line fleet. Their flights to Scandinavia are some of the most pleasant you can book, with brand-new Dreamliners pressurized to fight jet lag. These shorter routes will also be flying on new planes, albeit smaller Boeing 737’s. The upside: Norwegian will offer free Wi-Fi across all its Caribbean routes, including the option to rent movies and TV shows on personal devices—an industry first. (Better get to work on that international FlyFi system, Jet Blue!)