Aer Lingus has resumed flights to Boston and New York two years after they were cut amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Irish flag carrier restarted the services as part of a broader push to serve the US market.
In recent weeks, the airline has announced its summer schedule, which includes an almost 11% jump in the number of flights on offer compared to 2019. It plans to run 14 transatlantic routes and serve major cities including Chicago, San Francisco, Seattle and Toronto.
Airline to “unite friends, families and businesses once more”
Flight EL135 departed from Shannon at 13:24 on Thursday and landed six hours and 46 minutes later at Boston Logan. The following day the second new service kicked off – Flight EL111 from Shannon to JFK is scheduled to have a flight time of around eight hours.
Donal Moriarty, head of Corporate Affairs at Aer Lingus, made this comment on the return of the services:
“We are delighted to resume our transatlantic routes from Shannon to Boston and New York, restoring regional connectivity to the mid-west of Ireland and allowing Aer Lingus to unite friends, families, and businesses once more.”
The formally state-owned airline has been keen to attract travellers looking to visit friends and relatives across the pond in the wake of the pandemic but is now poised to cater to gradually returning tourists.
Routes proving popular
A large Irish community in Boston makes it an obvious choice for routes from the British Isles, and it is clear other airlines have caught on too in recent weeks. United Airlines recently introduced a new service connecting the city with Heathrow.
Last year, the airline outlined its price structures for the new service, with tickets going for as little as €169 each way to the North American destinations.
Despite being designed as a low-cost, Mr Moriarty was keen to point out that passengers on their services will be offered free meals and drinks, in-flight entertainment and cabin WiFi. Pre-clearance to US customs is also offered in Shannon and the services will use the airline’s two A321LR neos.
What do you think of Aer Lingus’ ambitions to better serve North America? Let us know in the comments below.
