• Announcement accelerates Aer Lingus’s DUB-HUB strategy
• Tickets on sale from today, providing connectivity to North America via Dublin for UK regional airports to 11 US destinations
• Operated under franchise to Aer Lingus, Emerald Airlines will fly over 340  flights per week across 11 routes by mid-Summer

Thursday 16th December 2021: Aer Lingus and Emerald Airlines have announced details of the commencement of Aer Lingus Regional flights, with tickets on sale from today. The flights operated under a franchise agreement by Emerald Airlines will commence on 17th March as Aer Lingus Regional. Today’s announcement will result in Emerald Airlines flying over 340 flights per week across 11 routes with fares starting at €29.99, with further route announcements to be made in the coming weeks.

High-frequency routes, including Dublin-Edinburgh and Dublin-Glasgow, will be served up to 4 times daily. The announcement sees the re-establishment of services to regional points across the U.K including Newquay Cornwall, Exeter, and Isle of Man. Emerald Airlines will be the only airline offering these services from Ireland. Critically, the announcement adds over 60 UK – US routes on the Aer Lingus network connecting via Dublin including connections from UK regional airports to New York, Los Angeles, Boston and Seattle.

Aer Lingus recently announced an ambitious schedule for Summer 2022, which reflects the airline’s goal to build to pre-pandemic levels of flying and anticipates continued momentum in customer demand. This commencement of the Aer Lingus Regional routes operated by Emerald Airlines will greatly increase connectivity between the UK, Ireland and the US, and accelerates Aer Lingus’s strategy to expand Dublin Airport as a hub airport.

Lynne Embleton, CEO of Aer Lingus said:

“Today is about opportunities. Opportunities for our UK customers to connect with ease to Aer Lingus flights to North America and to take advantage of the US preclearance facility. Opportunities for customers across UK and Ireland as we develop the Aer Lingus regional network. And opportunities for the Irish economy and Irish aviation as we expand our hub at Dublin.

“It has been a pleasure to work with the team at Emerald Airlines to accelerate this partnership and start operations 10 months ahead of the original schedule. We are all looking forward to welcoming our customers on-board Aer Lingus Regional services, operated by Emerald Airlines.” 

Conor McCarthy, CEO of Emerald Airlines said:

“We’re delighted to be able to commence operations under our franchise agreement with Aer Lingus well ahead of plan in line with the recovering customer demand. The time is right for Emerald Airlines to begin operations under the Aer Lingus Regional brand and we truly look forward to welcoming our customers onboard our flights as soon as February next.

“Our customer-focused schedules will offer choice, convenience and great value for both regional and transatlantic air travel. This announcement is a great boost for connectivity from Ireland to the U.K, including cities such as Edinburgh, Glasgow, Isle of Man, Newcastle, Bristol, and Leeds. Emerald Airlines will be offering a high-frequency schedule with convenient flight timings to facilitate both business and leisure passengers.

“Emerald has also established an airline company in Northern Ireland (Emerald Airlines UK Ltd) and has applied to the UK CAA for a UK AOC and Operating Licence. We are very confident that this will result in long-term connectivity being maintained across the Irish Sea and will boost business and leisure travel between Northern Ireland and Britain. We have already reached a long-term commercial agreement with George Best Belfast City Airport and look forward to connecting Belfast to many cities in the UK as soon as possible in 2022. Further details, routes and launch dates in relation to the Belfast operation will be announced in the New Year.”  

Emerald Airlines is continuing with the expansion of its fleet of ATR72-600s. The ATR72-600, the latest generation of turboprop aircraft combining environmental and economic performance, has a significant environmental advantage over regional jets and other turboprop aircraft emitting up to 40% less CO2 on short, regional flights.

For more information on fares and flight times, and to book visit aerlingus.com

Recruitment is ongoing at Emerald Airlines with more information on positions available on the Emerald Airlines’ careers page.

-ENDS-

Notes to the editor:

About Aer Lingus:

Aer Lingus is the national airline of Ireland, founded in 1936. In summer 2022, Aer Lingus will operate over 100 routes, flying to over 71 direct routes and to 62 destinations from Ireland to the UK and Europe. The airline will operate 16 transatlantic routes from Dublin and Manchester UK to North America and the Caribbean. Aer Lingus is a member of International Airlines Group (IAG), one of the world's largest airline groups. For more info, visit www.aerlingus.com 

Aer Lingus Book with Confidence Policy

Aer Lingus has extended its ‘Book with Confidence’ policy which allows all customers travelling with the airline to change their travel dates free of charge (note: a fare difference may apply) and as many times as they wish.

• For travel between now and end January 2022 customers can change bookings up until 2 hours before check-in
• For travel after 31 January to 30 September 2022– existing policy of change up to 7 days prior to travel date will apply

The flexible booking policy is available on all bookings up until 30th September 2022. Most fares also include the option to exchange for a guaranteed voucher up to 14 days before travel. In addition, those who booked Advantage, Flex, Business or Business Flex fares have the option of a cash refund if they decide not to travel.

Putting Safety First

Aer Lingus has introduced extensive measures at airports and on-board its aircraft to protect the health of its customers and staff and to ensure a safe and comfortable travel experience.  These measures include the mandatory wearing of face masks at all times by all customers and crew; social distancing at check in, boarding gate, boarding and disembarking the aircraft; an enhanced cleaning system; a state-of-the-art air filtration technology as standard on our Airbus aircraft

AerClub – the loyalty programme from Aer Lingus

AerClub is the loyalty programme from Aer Lingus which is designed to meet the needs of the modern international traveller. Avios is the reward currency of AerClub and Aer Lingus passengers can collect Avios each time they fly, and with our retail and leisure partners. Avios collected can then be turned into reward flights with Aer Lingus and AerClub airline partners. For further information and to become an AerClub member visit www.aerlingus.com/aerclub/

About Emerald Airlines:

Based out of Dublin, Emerald Airlines is Ireland’s newest regional airline and exclusive operator of the Aer Lingus Regional route network. Offering a range of solutions including Franchise, wet lease, and Private Charter flying, Emerald Airlines’ dedicated team of aviation specialists will provide customers with the fleet solutions to meet specific needs.

The Emerald management team is made up of highly experienced aviation professionals with extensive worldwide aviation experience. Emerald Airlines will provide a high-quality and customer-focused service for their airline client’s route networks.   

Guided by a set of core values, Emerald Airlines’ mission is to safely grow the business sustainability through innovation, expertise, and a commitment to exceeding the expectations of our customers and airline partners.