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Air Lingus
- IATA/ICAO code:
- IE/EIN
- Airline type:
- Full service carrier
- Center(s):
- Dublin Airport
- Foundation year:
- 1938
- Airline group:
- IAG
- CEO:
- Lynne Embleton
- Country:
- Ireland
Aer Lingus has announced that it will open a new route connecting Bradley International Airport (BDL) in Hartford, Connecticut, with Dublin Airport (DUB) in Dublin, Ireland. The reopened route will form part of the airline’s transatlantic expansion plans. It will be the airline’s 16th transatlantic route from Ireland and 19th from the UK. The route will start operating on March 26, 2023, giving BDL its only direct service to Europe. The service will add another connection point where Aer Lingus passengers can use the existing codeshare agreement with JetBlue.
transoceanic route
The service will be offered daily, with one flight per day from DUB to BDL and one return trip from BDL to DUB. Passengers traveling from the UK to BDL will be able to connect to Dublin from 11 airports across the island country. Airports include Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Newcastle, Exeter, Leeds Bradford, Southampton, London Gatwick and London Heathrow. These passengers flying to the US can undergo US immigration pre-clearance in Dublin, allowing them to arrive at BDL as domestic passengers. This will save passengers considerable time as they will not need to go through immigration services once they are in the US.
Aer Lingus will fly the new route twice a day as it anticipates regular demand. Photo: Aer Lingus
transatlantic expansion
This new route is the latest in the company’s transatlantic expansion plans. The airline has been looking to add services connecting North America and Europe in recent years. It is currently in a codeshare agreement with JetBlue. Together, the airlines have succeeded in providing passengers with convenient access to destinations on both continents. With this codeshare agreement, Aer Lingus passengers traveling on BDL will be able to connect to hundreds of destinations in North America through the JetBlue network upon arrival in Hartford.
Aer Lingus has several routes connecting the northeastern US with Ireland. Photo: Vincenzo Pace | single flight
The airline has shared its enthusiasm and ambitions for this new route. He anticipates seeing consistent demand for the route throughout the year from passengers looking to travel to Hartford and those looking to connect to other destinations through JetBlue. Aer Lingus CEO Lynne Embleton stated:
“We are opening up key cities and regions in the United States to Irish, British and European customers, by adding new transatlantic routes to Aer Lingus’ schedule. Daily flights to Hartford will take travelers to central Connecticut, home to global businesses, University Yale and renowned tourist attractions.
“Aer Lingus continues with its expansion plans in North America, increasing the number of transatlantic routes from its hub in Dublin. The restart of the daily flight to Bradley International Airport is the only direct service to Europe, which reflects the ability of Aer Lingus to connect UK and European customers with North America.”
aircraft selection
The long-haul flight will take place on one of the airline’s most fuel-efficient aircraft, the Airbus A321neo. The aircraft offers economy and business class cabins, allowing the airline to offer various fares. It burns 20% less fuel than the previous A321 model, significantly reducing CO2 emissions. It also has a 50% smaller noise footprint than the previous model. Reduced operating costs will substantially increase profit margins for this long-haul route.
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