Primera Air Launches 3 New Transatlantic Flights From the US Starting at $149
It looks like Primera isn't ready to quit the US. After launching a number of new routes and then cutting back on a few of them — with more cuts coming soon — the low-cost carrier announced three new transatlantic flights between the US and Europe, but not before next year:
- Newark (EWR) to Brussels (BRU): Daily starting May 9, 2019
- Washington Dulles (IAD) to Brussels (BRU): 3x weekly starting June 2, 2019
- Boston (BOS) to Brussels (BRU): 4x weekly starting June 4, 2019
Flights are already on sale via Primera Air's website, with prices starting at $149 one-way or $342 round-trip:
Following Primera Air has been quite the roller-coaster over the past year. In July 2017, the airline announced its first transatlantic routes from Birmingham (BHX), London Stansted (STN) and Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) to Newark (EWR) and Boston (BOS) using its new Airbus A321neos. Before its inaugural flight, Boston-Birmingham would quietly be canceled.
Then, Primera Air also wouldn't get its new aircraft in time for the inaugural, so I flew the inaugural Primera Air flight on a wet-leased National Airlines 757.
A week into that service, back-to-back-to-back Primera Air flights were canceled when the leased aircraft developed engine issues. Multiple flights after that faced overnight delays.
Since then, Primera Air has received new A321neos, but sales haven't taken off. In May, Primera eliminated its Boston to Birmingham route and reduce frequencies on its route from Newark to Birmingham. Then in early August, Primera completely shut down its operations in Birmingham — canceling all transatlantic and intra-Europe flights — effective October 2018.
With the new additions, Primera Air's current US operations consists of:
Currently Operating but Ending Soon:
- Boston (BOS) to London Stansted (STN) — 4x weekly until October 26, 2018
- Boston (BOS) to Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) — 3x weekly until October 27, 2018
- Newark (EWR) to London Stansted (STN) — daily until March 30, 2019
- Newark (EWR) to Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) — daily until March 31, 2019
Announced But Not Operating Yet:
- Washington Dulles (IAD) to London Stansted (STN) — 4x weekly starting August 23, 2018
- Newark (EWR) to Brussels (BRU) — daily starting May 9, 2019
- Washington Dulles (IAD) to Brussels (BRU) — 3x weekly starting June 2, 2019
- Boston (BOS) to Brussels (BRU) — 4x weekly starting June 2, 2019
TPG featured card
at Bilt's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 1X | Choose to earn up to 1X points on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee |
| 2X | Earn 2X points + the option to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday purchases |
Pros
- Choice to earn up to 1 Bilt Point per dollar spent on rent and mortgage payments
- Elevated everyday earnings with both Bilt Points and the option to earn Bilt Cash
- $400 Bilt Travel Portal hotel credit per year (up to $200 biannually)
- $200 Bilt Cash annually
- Priority Pass membership
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Moderate annual fee
- Designed primarily for members seeking a premium, all-in-one card
- Earn points on housing with no transaction fee
- Choose to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday spend. Use Bilt Cash to unlock point earnings on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee, up to 1X.
- 2X points on everyday spend
- $400 Bilt Travel Hotel credit. Applied twice a year, as $200 statement credits, for qualifying Bilt Travel Portal hotel bookings.
- $200 Bilt Cash (awarded annually). At the end of each calendar year, any Bilt Cash balance over $100 will expire.
- Welcome bonus (subject to approval): 50,000 Bilt Points + Gold Status after spending $4,000 on everyday purchases in the first 90 days + $300 of Bilt Cash.
- Priority Pass ($469/year value). See Guide to Benefits.
- Bilt Point redemptions include airlines, hotels, future rent and mortgage payments, Lyft rides, statement credits, student loan balances, a down payment on a home, and more.