Aer Lingus Inaugural Flight Departs for Dublin

Powered by Pittsburgh’s strong business and leisure connections to the Emerald Isle, Aer Lingus departed from Pittsburgh on Monday for the first time as part of nonstop service to Dublin.

Pittsburgh leaders say the flight presents an opportunity to build on that powerful business and cultural connection and aim to do that this week as part of the inaugural launch.

Area leaders including County Executive Sara Innamorato, Allegheny Conference Chief Growth Officer Matt Smith, Pittsburgh Steelers Vice President of Business Development and Strategy Dan Rooney, VisitPITTSBURGH CEO Jerad Bachar, Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission Executive Director Rich Fitzgerald, and Sen. Devlin Robinson joined Pittsburgh International Airport CEO Christina Cassotis on a regional delegation on the flight with Aer Lingus leadership along with several other business leaders.

“The Pittsburgh region’s connections to Ireland run deep – both in today’s strong business market and in ancestral ties. This is a route that community leaders have been seeking and the strong support we have received from the region since the flight’s announcement show its importance,” Cassotis said. “We are thrilled to have a strong partner in Aer Lingus that will serve Pittsburgh’s growing market to Ireland and beyond, and we look forward to welcoming even more European travelers to Pittsburgh.”

Local businesses and organizations as part of the delegation included K&L Gates, Hillman Family Foundations, Google Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Technology Council, Michael Baker International, University of Pittsburgh, Carlow University, C&G Strategies while other companies including UPMC and others will support from their Ireland operations.

Leaders will meet with business targets for growth, Irish government representatives, Irish media and tour operators, Aer Lingus leadership and more.

“This announcement really shows what we can accomplish when business elected leaders, and key stakeholders come together for the betterment of our region,” said Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato. “I’m honored for the opportunity to help lead this regional delegation to Dublin, demonstrating the strength of the Pittsburgh business market and showing Air Lingus that this region is serious about growing business and leisure connections in Ireland and Europe beyond.”

The flight will fly 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.

“Our new service to Pittsburgh brings Aer Lingus’ North American network to 24 routes from Ireland. This route strengthens our Dublin hub and provides seamless connections between North America, Ireland, the UK and Europe, while supporting tourism, business and cultural links between Ireland and Pennsylvania,” said Reid Moody, Chief Strategy & Planning Officer, Aer Lingus. “Building on our partnership with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and with Pitt Panthers playing in the 2027 Aer Lingus College Football Classic, this service further builds on our ties to the region and our long-standing connection with Pittsburgh.”

Officials said the flight sends a message to the global industry about the strength of the Pittsburgh market. 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 and Ireland have a lot to offer one another. Pennsylvania has deep Irish roots, and we also have enormous opportunities ahead to strengthen our economic, educational and cultural ties with Ireland,” said Pennsylvania state senator Devlin Robinson.

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.

“Today we are celebrating the best kind of win — one that creates value for everyone involved — from Aer Lingus to the Pittsburgh and Dublin communities served by this new international air service,” Rooney said. “This critical connectivity will strengthen bilateral tourism and business opportunities, driving positive economic impact in both markets. The Pittsburgh Steelers are honored to be part of this celebration and extend our sincere thanks to Aer Lingus, an official airline of the Pittsburgh Steelers, for recognizing and embracing our region’s undeniable momentum, as well as to the partnership, led by the Allegheny County Airport Authority, that came together to make this opportunity for Pittsburgh a reality.”

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.