Tag Archives: Aer Lingus

Aer Lingus operates its first flight from Manchester to New York (JFK)

Pictured are Aer Lingus Cabin Crew Niamh Keegan and Nicola Carooza inaugural flight from Manchester Airport direct to New York, JFK.

Aer Lingus on December 1, 2021 celebrated the launch of its very first direct flight, EI45, from Manchester to New York, JFK as the airline expands its transatlantic services for customers from the UK and marks its first direct flight between the UK and the United States.

The Irish flag carrier is also gearing up to prepare for the inaugural service from Manchester to Orlando in Florida on December 11, 2021.

The two new routes are part of the airline’s ambitious schedule plans for 2022.

An Innovative and Sustainable Travel Experience

From December 3, 2021 passengers flying Aer Lingus to JFK will experience the new Airbus A321LR single aisle aircraft. The new state-of-the-art aircraft promises a more innovative and sustainable travel experience, boasting greater fuel-efficiency, with a 15% reduction in fuel burn, compared to a A321CEO and a 50% reduction in noise footprint compared to previous generation aircraft. Offering both a Business Class cabin with 16 fully lie-flat seats, fine dining and complimentary wi-fi, and an Economy Class cabin with complimentary meal and snack and soft drink in-flight, and top inflight entertainment, including the latest movie releases, TV boxsets, games and music.

Rediscover New York and Orlando

Flights to New York for those looking to visit the excitement of Manhattan and surrounding boroughs, depart daily at 12:35 and arrive into New York’s iconic JFK airport at 16:15 local time.

Holidaymakers wanting to visit the ‘Sunshine State’ of Florida, can choose from four weekly flights from Manchester to Orlando, with fares starting from £209 each way (including taxes and charges), departing each day at 11:00 every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

Above Copyright Photo: Aer Lingus Airbus A321-253NX WL EI-LRC (msn 8965) BOS (Fred Freketic). Image: 955998.

Aer Lingus aircraft slide show:

Aer Lingus aircraft photo gallery:

Aer Lingus to resume flights to Orlando

Aer Lingus will re-start its direct service from Dublin to Orlando today, Saturday, November 27.

From this weekend, Dublin to Orlando will operate three flights per week to connect families, friends, and business in the run up to the holiday period. This weekly schedule of direct flights to Orlando will fly on Saturdays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Aer Lingus announces its 2022 summer schedule with 16 transatlantic routes

Aer Lingus has made this announcement:

16 Transatlantic routes

62 destinations across the Aer Lingus network

71 routes in total

Aer Lingus has unveiled an ambitious schedule for Summer 2022 which includes 16* transatlantic routes as the airline seeks to reconnect Ireland to the world. Aer Lingus will operate 71 routes and 62 destinations in Summer 2022.

Aer Lingus already has a strong Christmas schedule on sale and will incrementally build capacity in the lead up to Summer 2022. This strong schedule reflects the airline’s ambition to build to pre-pandemic levels of flying over time and anticipates continued momentum in customer demand.

Aer Lingus’ most recent consumer survey conducted in September showed that almost 2 in 3 (65%) adults in Ireland are planning to travel internationally in 2022, whether that’s to reconnect with family and friends, to have that important business meeting in-person, or to simply enjoy a relaxing and refreshing break abroad.

Due to popular demand, Aer Lingus has extended its market-leading ‘Book with Confidence’ policy which allows all customers traveling with the airline to change their travel dates free of charge*, and as many times as they wish, up to seven days before they travel. The flexible booking policy is available on all bookings up until 30^th September 2022.

The welcome return of flying to North America

Anticipating strong customer demand for travel to / from North America, following 18 months of travel restrictions, direct flights are available to favorite destinations such as New York, Chicago, Boston, LA, San Francisco, Toronto, Washington, Seattle and Philadelphia from as little as €169 each way including taxes and charges. Aer Lingus will re-introduce flying from Shannon in March to JFK and Boston with 14 flights per week to the USA.

Aer Lingus is also delighted to support the return of the US College Football to the Aviva Stadium in August 2022, welcoming the teams and supporters of the Northwestern Wildcats and the Nebraska Cornhuskers at the Aer Lingus College Football Classic.

Summer in Europe

Aer Lingus will ramp up short-haul capacity between now and Summer 2022, flying at least 50 short-haul routes next summer, 41 routes will fly from Dublin – with more to be added in the coming weeks, and a further 7 from Cork. Aer Lingus will operate to Heathrow from Shannon and Belfast, and to Gatwick from Knock. The schedule will include favorite destinations for Irish holiday makers seeking summer sun next year in Spain, Portugal, Italy, the Canaries and the Med, as well as lots of city break destinations to choose from throughout Europe, with flights starting at €35.99 each way including taxes and charges.

Aer Lingus takes off for Newark and Orlando, expands at Belfast City Airport

Aer Lingus has announced the re-start to a number of Transatlantic and European routes from Ireland this winter.

Irish customers ready to travel US bound once the travel ban is lifted in November, can once again fly direct from Dublin to Newark and Orlando from November. Direct flights from Dublin will also resume to Geneva and Prague from October 15, Frankfurt and Zurich from November 8 and Knock to London Gatwick will resume for the festive season on December 18.

Dublin to Newark will operate 4 times per week, increasing to daily from December 1, with fares starting from €149 each way. Dublin to Orlando will operate 3 times per week from November 27, with fares starting from €169 each way.

Dublin to Geneva route will operate 3 days per week in October, increasing to 4 per week in December and then to 9 flights per week from Christmas.

Dublin to Prague will operate 3 days per week. From

Starting on November 8, Dublin to Frankfurt will operate 10 flights per week and Dublin – Zurich flight will operate 6 flights per week.

Over the Christmas period, from December18, Knock to London Gatwick will operate daily.

In other news, Aer Lingus and Belfast City Airport announced that from October 31, Aer Lingus will significantly increase its services from Belfast City Airport to London Heathrow, Manchester, and Edinburgh. Belfast to Manchester will increase from its current daily schedule to twice daily flights; Belfast to London Heathrow will gain a further two services bringing it to the full 21 flights per week as operated pre-pandemic; and Belfast to Edinburgh will increase its daily schedule to 11 flights per week over the winter.

The Belfast to Manchester route will operate twice daily, with fares starting from £29.99 each way, including taxes and charges. The Belfast to Edinburgh route will operate 11 flights per week, daily on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and twice daily on Thursdays, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, with fares starting from £29.99 each way, including taxes and charges. Belfast to Heathrow will gain a further two services, on Monday and Saturday, with fares starting from £39.99 each way, including taxes and charges.

From November 3, Belfast to Manchester flight EI 302, will connect with Aer Lingus’ new direct flight EI 031, from Manchester Airport to Barbados, connecting Northern Irish customers to the Caribbean for the first time with Aer Lingus. Aer Lingus’ Manchester to Barbados route will operate 3 flights per week (Wednesday, Friday, Sunday) through to the end of April ’22. Fares start from £259 each way, including taxes and charges.

From December 1, Northern Irish customers will be able to connect on to Aer Lingus’ new direct services daily from Manchester Airport to New York, JFK and four weekly flights from 11th December from Manchester to Orlando.

Top Copyright Photo: Aer Lingus Airbus A321-253NX WL EI-LRA (msn 8887) JFK (Fred Freketic). Image: 955369.

Aer Lingus aircraft slide show:

Aer Lingus resumes flights to Washington

Aer Lingus resumed flights to Washington (Dulles) on August 13, 2021.

The U.S. capital is back on the Aer Lingus schedule, operating 4 times per week from Dublin.

Photo: Aer Lingus.

Aer Lingus signs ten year franchise agreement with Emerald Airlines

Aer Lingus has made this announcement:

Agreement will see Emerald Airlines Operating Aer Lingus Regional flights between the island of Ireland and Regional Airports in the UK, Isle of Man and Jersey
Emerald Airlines will operate ATR turboprop aircraft with associated Aer Lingus branding and livery
400+ new staff will be required between now and commencement of services

Aer Lingus has today announced that it has entered into a franchise agreement with Emerald Airlines which will commence on 1 January, 2023 for a period of ten years for the operation of Aer Lingus Regional flights. Although the contract is not due to commence for 18 months, Aer Lingus continues to work closely with Emerald Airlines to evaluate options with respect to an earlier contract start date in light of Stobart Air recently ceasing operations.

The new franchise agreement between Aer Lingus and Emerald Airlines will support Aer Lingus’s Dublin Hub strategy by providing connectivity of UK provincial airports to North America via Dublin. The agreement will offer connectivity between the island of Ireland and Regional Airports in UK, the Isle of Man and Jersey, with options for network expansion to more regional airports in the future.

Under the agreement, Emerald Airlines will operate ATR turboprop aircraft on the regional routes with associated Aer Lingus branding and livery. Over 400 staff will be required between now and commencement of services.

Aer Lingus commences trial IATA Travel Pass

Aer Lingus began trialling digital travel solution, IATA (International Air Transport Association) Travel Pass, on flights from Amsterdam to Dublin on July 5, 2021.

The IATA Travel Pass app can be downloaded onto a mobile device directly from the iOS App and Google Play store. Once downloaded, customers will create a secure account and will be presented with the entry requirements for their destination. Aer Lingus’ customers can then book a COVID-19 test with an approved provider* and the results will be automatically uploaded into the app by the laboratory.

The app then checks that a customer meets the COVID-19 test entry requirements for their destination and will then notify the customer to let them know that they are ‘OK to travel’. The airline’s parent company, International Airlines Group (IAG), has been working closely with IATA to co-develop the app that is now being successfully piloted by other global airlines, including British Airways and Iberia.

As Aer Lingus seeks the best solutions for its customers to ensure frictionless travel it has been progressing with a number of digital solutions in addition to the IATA Travel Pass, including VeriFLY which has been trialled on routes to and from the US and London Heathrow.

We can't wait to give you a warm welcome back this summer ☀️

As always, our crew will be ready and waiting to look after you ☘️

— Aer Lingus (@AerLingus) July 9, 2021

Aer Lingus announces details of Aer Lingus Regional replacement schedule

Aer Lingus has announced details of a replacement schedule for Aer Lingus Regional customers.

Aer Lingus Regional had been operated by Stobart Air under a franchise agreement. Late on the evening of 11th June, Stobart Air notified Aer Lingus that it was ceasing operations with immediate effect.

Teams across Aer Lingus have been working through the night progressing alternative flying operations from tomorrow to provide a service for Aer Lingus Regional customers.

Photo: Embraer

Of the twelve routes immediately impacted by Stobart Air’s decision to cease trading, Aer Lingus will operate five routes and for at least the next week BA CityFlyer will operate two. Alternative operations for the outstanding routes are still being determined.

All impacted customers are being contacted directly and offered details of an alternative flight where feasible. All impacted customers also have the option of a full refund.

Aer Lingus wishes to apologise to Aer Lingus Regional customers who have been affected by Stobart Air ceasing operations.

Aer Lingus (Mainline) will operate the following routes:

Dublin / Edinburgh; Dublin / Manchester; Belfast City / Manchester; Belfast City / Birmingham; Belfast City / Edinburgh;

BA City Flyer will operate the following routes:

Belfast City / Exeter; Belfast City / Leeds Bradford

Alternative operations for flights on following outstanding routes are still being determined.

Dublin / Kerry; Dublin / Donegal;

Customers scheduled to travel on the Belfast City / East Midlands; Dublin / Glasgow; Dublin / Newquay routes are being offered alternative flights

Aer Lingus will probably “right size” its assets due to a lack of an Irish restart plan and continued losses

Aer Lingus reported an operating loss of €103 million in the first quarter. This followed a loss of €361 million in 2020.

The airline is currently dealing with COVID-19 restrictions on travel in Ireland.

The company is now saying it will need to “right size” its resources due to lack of an Irish Government restart plan for aviation in Ireland.

Parent IAG is “considering the necessary steps we need to take” for the airline to “survive,” according to CEO Luis Gallego , which was stated during the first quarter earnings call on May 7, 2021.

Last month the company stressed the need for a plan with this statement:

Aer Lingus called on Government to urgently facilitate the implementation of Ireland’s Aviation Restart Plan 2021.

Donal Moriarty, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Aer Lingus said:

“The need for a data-driven, risk-based Irish roadmap to reopen international travel is urgent. This will enable the restoration of connectivity and ensure that the economy is supported to deliver the recovery that will be vital for the country.

“With the publication of Ireland’s Aviation Restart Plan by the National Civil Aviation Development Forum (NCADF), a considered and effective exit strategy is outlined. What is critically important now is that the Government urgently takes the required steps to finalize the plan and enable its implementation.

“Our UK neighbors recognize the importance of outlining an exit strategy for the sector and have endeavored to do so in recent days.

“In the US, as the vaccination roll out continues apace, potential inbound tourists are considering where to travel later this year.

“The aviation sector works to long lead-times. Parameters for the opening of our economy including the restoration of international travel, aligned with our vaccination roll-out timeline and appropriate public health metrics, need to be developed.

“Government urgency and focus is therefore required to develop a clear and speedy pathway for the recovery of the aviation sector in this country.”