Aer Lingus to unveil new service to US east coast

Aer Lingus will significantly increase its capacity to the US east coast next year, to coincide with the year-long Gathering tourism event. Combined with recent new service announcements by United Airlines and American Airlines, the move will increase flight capacity between the US and Ireland by 10 per cent next year.

Aer Lingus currently serves Boston, Chicago, New York, Charlotte and Washington on the US east coast. From the end of March to the end of October next year, there will be four extra Dublin-Chicago return flights per week, and three extra Dublin-Boston return flights. This will add capacity of 115,000 seats for the airline's North American market.

Transport and tourism minister Leo Varadkar recently met Jack Foley, the airline's executive vice-president for North America, during a promotional tour to the US and Canada. Varadkar was visiting North America to promote The Gathering tourism initiative, and then discussed an expansion of Aer Lingus' services from the US next year.

United Airlines is also understood to be considering a proposal from Varadkar to provide a direct service from Ireland to the west coast of the US. The minister met three top executives at the airline during this recent trip, including Brian Znotins, United's managing director of international sales planning.

Varadkar told the United executives that the Dublin Airport Authority's (DAA) long-haul route support scheme, which includes free landing charges in the first year and a gradual increase in charges over the following four years, would be open to them if they decide to proceed with a west coast link. The airline would also receive matched marketing funding from Tourism Ireland for the promotion of any new service.

There is currently no direct service from Ireland to the west coast of the US -- Aer Lingus pulled its west coast routes in 2009 in response to mounting losses.

"You can see there is a trend recently of development in the market in Ireland, and we would be happy to look at any new opportunities to take that further," a United Airlines spokesman told this newspaper.

"We review potential new routes and opportunities in all markets, and have an unmatched number of hubs in the US, including San Francisco and Los Angeles on the west coast. This network offers exciting potential for service expansion around the world."

United announced last month that it would commence a new service from Shannon to Chicago next summer. The service will run for the peak months of June, July and August.