Spring of 2018 promises an array of new price and destination options for flights between Ireland and the U.S. In February, Irish national airline Aer Lingus and Norwegian Air both announced plans to increase the number of flights and destination options between the United States and Ireland. Aer Lingus will launch its first ever direct Dublin-Philadelphia service, beginning with four flights a week in March and increasing to daily flights in May, bringing their number of regular U.S. destinations to an even dozen. Norwegian Air, which last summer launched €99 direct flights from Dublin to New York’s Stewart airport, announced they would be doubling the regularity of those flights to twice daily. The moves are part of a recent trend of budget-friendly transatlantic service. In August, Dublin-based WOW Air announced plans for four new €130 routes from Dublin to Detroit, St. Louis, Cleveland, and Cincinnati, which will also begin in March.
The efforts to widen availability are being made to keep up with the noticeably high trend in travel between Ireland and the U.S., both business and pleasure-based. “The Irish links to Philadelphia are well-known and renowned. And so there is a strong heritage and legacy,” noted Stephen Kavanagh, Aer Lingus’s chief executive. “But there’s also strong business being conducted between Pennsylvania and Dublin.”
The introduction of new, increased services is expected to drive the prices for these flights down as the airlines compete for business, as well as generate income for the localities where they are based, Philadelphia city commerce director Harold Epps said. “It’s another way to access Europe for a lower fare. So business and tourists will have options.” ♦
U.S.-Ireland Flights Increase in Number and Affordability
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