How Aer Lingus Takes Pittsburgh Beyond Ireland

Aer Lingus’ entry into the Pittsburgh market with service to Dublin launching May 25 won’t just mark the region’s first nonstop flight to Ireland. The new service is adding even more connectivity between Pittsburgh and the rest of Europe.

Dublin is PIT’s third transatlantic hub connected with nonstop service in recent years, joining London Heathrow on British Airways and Reykjavik on Icelandair. PIT’s expansion in transatlantic service is a result of the airport’s strategy of expanding one-stop itineraries to more destinations throughout Europe and beyond for the region and provide alternatives to bypass major East Coast gateways to reach international markets.

Aer Lingus has positioned itself to become a top choice for transatlantic travel. The airline serves over 30 destinations throughout Europe and the U.K., and has expanded its presence in North America, made possible by acquiring long-rage Airbus A321neo aircraft, to feed into transatlantic connections primarily through Dublin.

“From Pittsburgh, there’s an interest in Europe and traveling to Ireland,” said Bill Bryne, Aer Lingus’ senior vice president of Global Sales, in an interview with Our Region’s Business aired on March 24. “The advantage we offer with this service is not only does it open the door for Ireland but also for beyond in Europe. We have convenient, fast connections… so we can connect Pittsburgh to the world.”

WATCH: Our Region’s Business – Aer Lingus

Aer Lingus’ Pittsburgh-Dublin route, which operates four times a week on a year-round basis with a brief pause in January and February, is timed specifically for many of the airline’s European markets. From Dublin, Aer Lingus offers connections to 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 operates out of Terminal 2 at Dublin Airport and is the facility’s primary tenant. Opened in 2010, Dublin’s Terminal 2 is one of Europe’s newest terminals and offers many modern amenities for travelers, including over 9,000 square meters (97,000 square feet) of shops and restaurants, and an Aer Lingus Lounge, a quiet space for travelers to work or relax during longer layovers.

In addition, Terminal 2 is connected to the rest of Dublin Airport through airside and landside allowing transfer passengers to reach their connecting flights seamlessly. “It’s a smaller airport and you’ll connect quicker,” Bryne said.

Passengers returning to Pittsburgh through Dublin get to pre-clear U.S. Customs and Border Protection. This allows travelers to pass through customs and immigration inspections before boarding their flight and arrive back in the U.S. similar to domestic passengers, providing a smoother travel experience.

From getting off the plane to exiting the terminal should take approximately 10 minutes, Bryne said, who added that U.S. border preclearance provides Dublin a major advantage, particularly for corporate travel. “Business travelers want predictability and convenience, and this service is going to offer both.”

Aer Lingus offers additional tips for connecting travelers on its website, including check-in, navigation, luggage transfers and lounge access, for a seamless experience.

In addition to its destinations throughout Europe, Aer Lingus carries numerous airline partnerships that expand the airline’s network further beyond Ireland.

Since 2020, Aer Lingus is a member of the Atlantic Joint Business (AJB) venture with American Airlines, British Airways, Iberia and Finnair. The joint venture enables codeshares – coordinated agreements allowing multiple airlines to sell a single flight each member – for increased connectivity between North America and Europe.

The agreement is one of many airline partnerships that allows carriers to offer more flight schedules and travelers to earn or redeem points across all partner airlines.

The joint venture allows members of Aer Lingus’ AerClub frequent flier program to redeem miles on carriers like American and British Airways, and vice versa, offering shared status perks, such as lounge access and faster check-in. Aer Lingus fliers from Pittsburgh will have lounge access to American’s Admirals Club located on the fourth-floor mezzanine level of the Airside Core.

Aer Lingus also has interline agreements with Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, JetBlue, United Airlines and Qatar Airways for connecting journeys across Europe and beyond. Interline agreements allow for booking connecting flights, checking bags through and earning or spending airline miles with select partner carriers.