Pittsburgh’s Strength as Business Center Fuels Aer Lingus Entry into Market

With today’s announcement that Aer Lingus is introducing nonstop flights from Pittsburgh International Airport to Dublin Airport, Pittsburgh and Ireland have the opportunity to build on the powerful business and cultural connection that drives economic development in both regions.

Flights on Aer Lingus, the Irish flag carrier, start on May 25, 2026, on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays – connecting the two cities for the first time with regular scheduled service. The route will operate year-round with a brief pause in January and February. Flights are available for booking now.

From Dublin, Aer Lingus offers connections to a number of markets, including Irish destinations such as Donegal, regional markets in the U.K. including Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh, and major European cities, including Amsterdam, Berlin, Geneva, Glasgow, Madrid, Paris, Rome, Venice and Zurich.

“Aer Lingus is particularly pleased to add Pittsburgh to our transatlantic network, having worked closely with partners in the region to make this a possibility. This route builds on our strong partnership with the Pittsburgh Steelers and further cements Aer Lingus’ position as a leading transatlantic carrier. Through its Dublin hub, Aer Lingus provides convenient connections that link Pittsburgh with over 30 destinations across Europe and the U.K.,” said Susanne Carberry, Aer Lingus Chief Customer Officer.

Officials said this announcement sends a message to the global industry about the strength of the Pittsburgh market.

“The Pittsburgh region’s connections to Ireland run deep – both in today’s strong business market and ancestral ties – and this is a route that community leaders have been seeking,” Pittsburgh International Airport CEO Christina Cassotis said. “We are thrilled to have a partner in Aer Lingus that will serve Pittsburgh’s growing market for nonstop service to Ireland and beyond, and we look forward to welcoming even more European travelers to Pittsburgh.”

This route addition is building on long-term ties between Pittsburgh and Ireland. One of the NFL’s premier teams with followers around the globe, the Pittsburgh Steelers were selected to play the first-ever NFL regular-season game in Dublin in September 2025 in part because the Rooney family, which has owned the team since its founding in 1933, has deep connections to Ireland. The Rooneys trace their ancestry to Newry in Northern Ireland and the late Steelers Chairman Dan Rooney Sr. co-founded The Ireland Funds, a philanthropic organization promoting peace and reconciliation, and served as the U.S. Ambassador to Ireland from 2009 to 2012.

“The Pittsburgh Steelers and Rooney family, with strong ties to Ireland, are thrilled by today’s announcement that Aer Lingus, an Official Airline of the Pittsburgh Steelers, will launch nonstop service between Pittsburgh and Dublin. This announcement builds off deep connections between these two regions and will help to drive economic growth, investment, and vitality in both markets. We applaud the partnership, with Christina Cassotis at the helm, that came together to secure this economic win for our region,” said Dan Rooney, Vice President of Business Development and Strategy, Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Steelers game in Dublin this September bolstered and highlighted the relationship between the regions, but the roots go much deeper. Several major Pittsburgh-based companies have operations in Ireland, including:

• UPMC: The $30 billion health care provider and insurer is the single largest nongovernmental employer in Pennsylvania, with about 100,000 employees. It operates hundreds of locations in the U.S. and in places around the globe, including Italy, Croatia and Ireland. UPMC operates four hospitals in Ireland — the Sports Surgery Clinic, UPMC Whitfield, UPMC Kildare and UPMC Aut Even — two Hillman Cancer Centers, a network of sports medicine clinics, several outpatient facilities and its Global Technology Operations Center.
• PPG Industries: The global leader in paints, coatings and specialty materials is the second-largest coatings company in the world by revenue and operates in more than 70 countries across six continents, including Ireland, China and Germany.
• BNY: The oldest continuously operating bank in the U.S. and the world’s largest global custodian bank was founded in 1784. It has operations in 35 countries, including Ireland, Germany, France and Italy.
• MSA Safety: The worldwide safety company holds leading market positions in critical safety segments, such as self-contained breathing apparatuses. It has locations across the globe, including Ireland, Germany, Brazil and India.
• Eaton: The intelligent power management company provides energy-efficient solutions designed to help customers effectively manage electrical, hydraulic and mechanical power. Its global corporate headquarters is in Dublin with the Pittsburgh area serving as a hub for its electrical business. Eaton has a presence in 44 countries, including Germany, France, Brazil and India.

Others are recognizing the economic development potential.

Martin O’Brien, chief executive of the Louth & Meath Education and Training Board in Dundalk, Ireland, struck a partnership with the Ireland Institute of Pittsburgh and Catalyst Connection, a Pittsburgh economic development nonprofit that assists small manufacturing firms. In 2022, O’Brien spent three days touring Pittsburgh-area companies and research hubs, including Neighborhood 91, a center for 3D printing and additive manufacturing at the Pittsburgh International Airport campus. Catalyst Connections and Ireland’s Southern Regional College also announced an apprenticeship exchange program in September 2025.

The nonprofit Ireland Institute connects Pittsburgh and Irish companies through the Pittsburgh Irish Business Network to explore trade and investment opportunities. James Lamb, president of the Ireland Institute of Pittsburgh, is the city’s honorary consul of Ireland, responsible for facilitating business opportunities and cultural exchange.

“As someone with deep and personal ties to Ireland, I have a strong understanding of the importance of Pennsylvania’s rich history of Irish heritage. Our commonwealth was built on the contributions of our Irish ancestors and those who continue to carry their legacies, values and traditions. Just last year, I led the successful effort to create an Ireland Trade Commission to foster stronger ties between Pennsylvania and Ireland, and now with this nonstop service from Aer Lingus, that mission has become that much easier to accomplish,” said Pennsylvania State Senator Devlin Robinson.

Before the Steelers took to the field in Dublin, a contingent of Pittsburgh business and government leaders, including Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. Austin Davis, state Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary Rick Siger, Allegheny Conference CEO Stefani Pashman and Rooney, promoted the opportunities for new investment in Pittsburgh.

They were joined by representatives from Pittsburgh International Airport, the Allegheny Conference, Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, and VisitPittsburgh to pitch Pittsburgh’s strengths in sectors ranging from healthcare and life sciences to manufacturing and technology to potential partners.

“We’re thrilled to welcome this new international route, which further strengthens Pittsburgh’s global connectivity and underscores the incredible momentum across our region. Pittsburgh is a city forging ahead—with major investments, a growing innovation economy, and a vibrant cultural scene that continues to draw visitors from around the world. This flight makes it easier than ever for international travelers to experience everything that makes Pittsburgh a must-see destination. We look forward to partnering with Pittsburgh International Airport and our new airline partners at Aer Lingus to ensure this route thrives for years to come.” Said Jerad Bachar, CEO and president of VisitPittsburgh.

Those business connections will be enhanced by Aer Lingus, which the international air transport rating organization Skytrax has awarded four stars. Aer Lingus’ nonstop service between PIT and Dublin is expected to create an economic impact of approximately $23 million per year supporting 156 jobs, according to a model by EDRG.

Pittsburgh is the only North American market included in today’s Aer Lingus announcement, which included four additional European routes. Pittsburgh now features three trans-Atlantic routes (along with London and Reykjavik). This route becomes the 63rd non-stop destination from PIT and increases the airport’s number of airlines to 16.

The flights to Dublin on Airbus A321LR aircraft will depart from Pittsburgh at 8:40 p.m. and arrive in Dublin at 8:40 a.m. The flight back will depart from Dublin at 4:10 p.m. and arrive in Pittsburgh at 7:10 p.m. Travelers on flights from Dublin arrive at PIT pre-cleared, meaning they have completed their immigration and customs inspections before boarding their flight. This allows travelers to proceed directly to the baggage claim or terminal exit after arriving without the need to clear customs at PIT, providing a smoother travel experience.

The airline is a member of International Airlines Group (IAG), the corporate parent for British Airways. As part of IAG, Aer Lingus has pledged to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and to power 10 percent of its flights with sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) by 2030.

That aligns with PIT’s industry-leading initiative to produce SAF on its campus in partnership with Avina Synthetic Aviation Fuel. The facility is expected to produce over 100 million gallons of SAF annually. It could be operational by 2028, making PIT the first on-airport SAF facility in the U.S. to provide fuel for aircraft using the airport.

That would be the latest in PIT’s energy innovations, which include its first-of-its-kind microgrid, powered by natural gas and a solar farm. The microgrid enables the airport to be resilient against power outages that can compromise safety and disrupt the industry, while saving in utility costs.