Security incident halts flights at Birmingham Airport

Flights at Birmingham Airport were halted today after a suspect package was found on an Emerald Airlines flight that had just taken off and was heading to Belfast.

A number of flights were either delayed or had to be diverted as the Emerald Airlines ATR aircraft operating the flight on behalf of Aer Lingus, returned to Birmingham and its passengers and crew off-loaded and investigations took place.

West Midlands Police confirmed they were called to the airport at around 16:00 following the discovery of the suspicious package.  In a statement, they said, "All passengers and crew were evacuated and specialist officers including the dog unit searched the plane."  

A spokesperson for the airport confirmed some flights were diverted during the two hours the airport was closed. Train services were also affected at the nearby Birmingham International Railway station.  Network Rail confirmed that at 18:20 all rail lines had reopened but disruption was likely to continue for some time. 

The undeclared item was later advised to be not a security risk. 

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Aer Lingus delivers profits of €225m in 2023

Aer Lingus recorded an operating profit of €225 million for the full year 2023, an increase of €168 million in 2022. 

The positive financial performance in 2023 reflected strong demand for leisure travel on both short-haul and long-haul routes. In 2023, Aer Lingus served 10.7 million passengers, operated its largest-ever North American network and added more routes and capacity to European destinations from Ireland. Business travel in 2023 lagged pre-Covid levels but is showing some signs of recovery in early 2024. The financial performance in 2023 is not yet at 2019 levels of profitability and margin due to higher operating costs. 

Advancing its sustainability programme, Aer Lingus took delivery of two Airbus 320 neo aircraft in 2023. The aircraft delivers the lowest emissions per seat on the company’s short-haul network. Aer Lingus also procured its first supply of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) in 2023, 750 tonnes at London Heathrow and has an ambition to use 10% SAF by 2030. The airline committed over €306 million in 2023 to investment in new fleet, customer experience, technology and other operational areas and welcomed almost 900 new people into the airline.

Aer Lingus’s CEO, Lynne Embleton said, “These results put Aer Lingus on the right trajectory for the future. We have a compelling growth strategy for Aer Lingus that will be good for the company, our employees, our customers and for Ireland. However, achieving it is dependent on having the right cost base and productivity levels and not being constrained by the unnecessary passenger cap issue. These challenges will need to be resolved by a collaborative and sensible approach by all stakeholders that delivers the right outcomes”.

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Russian hackers target airlines in latest cyber attack.

Russian hackers could release the details of thousands of people employed by airlines British Airways and Aer Lingus, along with retail giant Boots and broadcaster BBC.  According to reports the cyber attack on Zellis, a payroll processing payroll company may have included personal data such as bank account numbers, names, addresses and national insurance numbers. 

The National Cyber Security Centre confirmed it was “working to fully understand the UK impact” of the hack which could stretch to hundreds of thousands of people. So far British Airways, Aer Lingus, Boots and BBC have confirmed they are affected by the breach. 

IAG airline, British Airways sent an urgent email to staff on Monday to advise them of the incident which could affect all 34,000 employees. The "cyber security incident which has led to the disclosure of personal information about colleagues paid through British Airways’ payroll in the UK and Ireland." the company said. 

The Irish carrier and also part of IAG, Aer Lingus, said details of current and former employees, including their national insurance numbers, had been stolen in the data breach, although a spokesperson assured: "no financial or bank details relating to Aer Lingus current or former employees were compromised in this incident."

According to the Telegraph the hackers hit Zellis through a backdoor system called MOVEit which is often used to move files. At this stage, the current attack is said to affect eight company customers of Zellis, yet the other four firms have not been disclosed.

Zellis issued the following statement "We can confirm that a small number of our customers have been impacted by this global issue and we are actively working to support them. All Zellis-owned software is unaffected and there are no associated incidents or compromises to any other part of our IT estate.

“Once we became aware of this incident we took immediate action, disconnecting the server that utilises MOVEit software and engaging an expert external security incident response team to assist with forensic analysis and ongoing monitoring. We have also notified the ICO, DPC, and the NCSC in both the UK and Ireland."

Aer Lingus begins new Knock-Heathrow service & restarts direct flights to Hartford, Connecticut

Late last month Aer Lingus began a brand new service connecting the west coast of Ireland to London Heathrow and recommenced direct flights to Hartford, Connecticut from Dublin.

New Knock-Heathrow service

The inaugural Aer Lingus flight EI916, operated by an Airbus A320, departed from Ireland West Airport at Knock for Heathrow at 13.05pm on 26th March. Given the close proximity of Knock to the Wild Atlantic Way and the huge spotlight on the west of Ireland following the box-office hit The Banshees of Inisherin, the new route will connect GB visitors and those travelling via Heathrow to one of Ireland’s most popular destinations.

Tourism Ireland figures indicate that the majority of visitors to Ireland are from Great Britain (42%), followed by the US (15%) which validates the new Aer Lingus route and highlights the importance of connectivity between Ireland and Great Britain. In addition, according to Tourism Ireland, 4.78 million people from Great Britain visited the Island of Ireland in 2019, generating €1.4 billion in revenue and 28% of British holidaymakers were between the ages of 25 and 34.

For residents of the West of Ireland, who can avail of Aer Lingus’ 16 direct Aer Lingus North American routes from Dublin and Shannon airports this summer, the London Heathrow service will also enable them to connect to destinations right across the globe via the UK’s largest and busiest airport.

Lynne Embleton, Aer Lingus CEO, said: “The west of Ireland has much to offer as a tourist destination with the world renowned Wild Atlantic Way on its doorstep. Our new Knock-Heathrow service is an exciting new route for Aer Lingus and the region, bringing travellers from Great Britain right to the heart of the action. Equally, customers from the west of Ireland will now fly into London Heathrow, the UK’s largest airport, and have the opportunity to travel onwards to cities all over the world.”

Welcoming the news, Arthur French, Chairman, Ireland West Airport commented “This is another proud day for the airport and the entire Western region. The hub status of Heathrow for business and leisure passengers to connect with the global marketplace is a major boost for this region with this new daily service opening up key onward connectivity, through one of Europe’s biggest hubs, to over 80 destinations worldwide. I have no doubt this new service will attract strong support from the region and overseas and we thank Aer Lingus for their continued commitment to the airport and West of Ireland region.”

Judith Cassidy of Tourism Ireland said: “This new route from Heathrow to Knock means that GB visitors can travel directly from London to Ireland’s dramatic Wild Atlantic Way coastline in less than two hours.

Aer Lingus Regional to commence new services to Liverpool and the Northwest of France to Brest, Brittany, from Dublin

Emerald Airlines, the exclusive operator of Aer Lingus Regional services is soon to be commencing a year-round service from Dublin to Liverpool and a Summer service to Brest, Brittany (France).  

Commenting on the announcement, Ciarán Smith, Head of Commercial at Emerald Airlines said: “Today’s announcement comes just in time for those planning their Summer trips away. For customers looking for convenient travel options to and from Liverpool, or a direct, seamless route to the Northwest of France, Brest, we are happy to be providing you with more choice when planning your travels.”  

With more flights and more choice for the travelling public, the airline is progressively bolstering its 2023 schedule, with over 2.5 million seats on sale, across 30 routes and 20 destinations in Ireland, UK, and Channel Islands. 

Claude Arphexad, Director at Brest Airport said: “We are very happy to welcome the Emerald company to Brest airport and very proud to be their first destination in France. Dublin was a highly anticipated destination; we are delighted to be able to offer it to Bretons this summer.”

 

NEW ROUTES

Georgia Tech and Florida State University to contest 2024 Aer Lingus College Football Classic

                                   Georgia Tech and Florida State University have been revealed as the two teams set to contest the 2024 edition of the Aer Lingus College Football Classic in the Aviva Stadium, Dublin, on Saturday, 24th August 2024. 

With over 20,000 people expected to travel to Dublin from America for the highly anticipated clash between two leading US colleges, research from Fáilte Ireland and Grant Thornton estimates that the Aer Lingus College Football Classic 2024 fixture will be worth €69 million to the Irish economy. 

The 2024 game will be the third consecutive American college football game held in Ireland since the game series was announced and the eighth Division 1 College Football game to be played in Ireland.

Like in 2022 and Notre Dame and Navy this August, the 2024 game will be the opening fixture for the College Football season and is an Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) game. The game is played on "Week Zero" and is to be televised on ESPN to an estimated 4 million plus US live audience.  

Georgia Tech will return to Ireland next year for the second time since 2016, when they defeated Boston College by 17 points to 14 in the Aviva Stadium. 

In 2024 the Yellow Jackets will hope to call on Ireland's own David Shanahan, a member of the 2017 Kerry panel that won the All-Ireland Minor Football Championship. David, who is studying at Georgia Tech, is a punter, which is a special teams or 'kicking team' player. During his first football season at Georgia Tech, David appeared in all 12 games and handled all 61 of Georgia Tech's punts despite having never played in an American Football game prior to this. He is the first Irishman ever to receive a full scholarship to play American college football.

Aer Lingus Regional operated by Emerald Airlines has carried over 1 million passengers in first 12 months.....

Aer Lingus and Emerald Airlines celebrate the first anniversary of the franchise partnership

Aer Lingus and Emerald Airlines today celebrate one year of their franchise partnership, having operated its inaugural international flight under the new Aer Lingus Regional franchise from Dublin to Isle of Man, just 12 months ago. Aer Lingus Regional services, exclusively operated by Emerald Airlines, have carried over 1 million passengers and operated more than 22,000 flights over the past 12 months.

By peak summer, Emerald airlines will fly up to 800 flights per week,across 30 routes serving 20 destinations in Ireland, UK, Channel Islands and France. This includes new flights connecting Cork to Bristol, Belfast to Isle of Man as well as increased flights from Dublin to 14 airports across UK, including a newly announced year-round service from Dublin to Liverpool and a summer service to Brest, Brittany (France). The airline is progressively bolstering its 2023 schedule, with over 2.5 million seats on sale this year.

Customers flying on Aer Lingus Regional routes can avail of AerClub, Aer Lingus’ loyalty programme. Each time they fly they can collect Avios which can be turned into reward flights with Aer Lingus and AerClub airline partners, while also earning tier credits to unlock tier benefits such as lounge access and fast track.

The Emerald partnership is hugely significant for Aer Lingus not just in terms of the direct regional services it provides, particularly to smaller key UK markets, but also due to the number of Aer Lingus Regional passengers who connect onwards to Aer Lingus’ transatlantic services. Currently Aer Lingus Regional feeds one in eight transatlantic passengers to Aer Lingus, supporting Dublin as the natural gateway to the U.S. Aer Lingus Regional customers transferring onward to North America can avail of US Immigration and Pre-clearance at Dublin Airport, skipping lengthy immigration queues stateside.

The first Aer Lingus Regional domestic flight from Dublin to Donegal took off as part of the franchise partnership, 10 months in advance of the original start date which was planned to be January of this year. The acceleration of the start date fell in line with the post pandemic uplift in demand for travel.

Lynne Embleton, CEO of Aer Lingus said:

“Emerald Airlines is a key partner for Aer Lingus, as we continue to rebuild and grow our transatlantic network. The first year of our partnership with Emerald has been very positive.

“Through Emerald Airlines, the Aer Lingus Regional brand is able to serve important smaller UK regional markets. Providing passengers onto our longhaul services is a critical element of this partnership and in its first year it has been very successful in driving that traffic onto the Aer Lingus transatlantic network.

“Our close working relationship with the Emerald Airlines team means they have a deep understanding of our brand and strategy to continue growing Dublin Airport as a hub. I’m looking forward to more growth, more customers, more routes and more to come from Emerald Airlines and Aer Lingus Regional.”

Conor McCarthy, Executive Chairman of Emerald Airlines said:

“What a year it has been! Starting our journey in the skies over 12 months ago, we have now welcomed over 400 staff across both our Dublin and Belfast bases and will soon be operating 30 routes across 19 destinations in Ireland, UK, Channel Islands, and Northern France.

“I’d like to thank our great team here at Emerald for their ongoing support and commitment over the past 12 months, our partners at Aer Lingus, and our loyal customers for continuously choosing to fly with us - without you, this milestone would not be possible. We look forward to continuing to provide frequent, reliable and great value air services for many years to come.” 

This summer Aer Lingus will operate its largest ever North American summer schedule to date, with over 2.25 million transatlantic seats on sale for summer 2023. Aer Lingus has the fifth largest transatlantic hub in the world at Dublin, presenting a huge opportunity for Emerald Airlines.

Aer Lingus Regional to start flights to Belfast City Airport from East Midlands Airport

Emerald Airlines, largest operator out of Belfast City Airport and exclusive operator of the Aer Lingus Regional network, today announces a new service from East Midlands Airport (EMA) to Belfast City.

The East Midlands to Belfast City service will start on Sunday 26 March, initially as a daily service, and will increase up to double daily from mid-April. Tickets are on sale now at www.aerlingus.com

Commenting on the announcement, Ciarán Smith, Head of Commercial at Emerald Airlines said: “We are very pleased to be strengthening our schedule out of Belfast City Airport. As the demand for travel options from Belfast only increases, this new route will no doubt be warmly welcomed. Earlier this week we announced that we will be adding 15,000+ seats immediately across our existing network from Belfast City, and we will continue growing these services in the months ahead.”

Steve Griffiths, East Midlands Airport’s Managing Director, said: “We’re delighted that the Aer Lingus Regional service between EMA and Belfast City will begin next month. This news will be well received by the passengers who make use of this popular route which is an important part of our domestic offer. We look forward to working with the airline as they seek further opportunities to grow their operation here.”

Aer Lingus moves its Ireland West Airport Knock service from London Gatwick to London Heathrow.......

 which aims to support connectivity for the West and boost the local economy and tourism. The change takes effect from 26th March 2023 and will operate daily. Customers already booked on this route to/from Gatwick will be automatically rebooked on a same-day flight.*

The majority of visitors to Ireland are from Great Britain (42%), followed by the US (15%), and this new route aims to boost direct and connecting inbound tourism to the West.[1] Aer Lingus aims to take advantage of the growing trend of screen tourism, which Tourism Ireland has identified as a key opportunity for 2023, with films like the Banshees of Inisherin showcasing the West of Ireland to a global audience.[2] Ireland West Airport is also a gateway to the Wild Atlantic Way, with nine of the fifteen signature discovery points located within a 60-80 minute drive from the airport.

The announcement reinforces Aer Lingus’s commitment to Ireland West Airport Knock, as the airport continues to rebound after Covid, with passenger numbers increasing by 314% last year, reaching 89% of the record-breaking year of 2019[3].

Aer Lingus expects that the convenience of London Heathrow’s location will drive additional point-to-point demand and increased connecting traffic.  Reid Moody Chief Strategy and Planning Officer at Aer Lingus said: "With a direct service to one of Europe’s busiest airports, customers from the West will now be able to easily connect from Heathrow to destinations right across the globe. The service will also drive inbound tourism at a time when interest in visiting the West of Ireland is very high, with the Oscar nominated Banshees of Inisherin showcasing the beauty of the West of Ireland to millions of people globally.”

Aer Lingus Regional to Commence Flights to Newcastle and Nottingham East Midlands from Belfast City Airport

Emerald Airlines, largest operator out of Belfast City Airport and exclusive operator of the Aer Lingus Regional network, today announces two new services to Newcastle and Nottingham East Midlands from Belfast City. All domestic regional points vacated by Flybe at Belfast City Airport will now be reestablished by Aer Lingus Regional.

 

With fares starting at £34.99* the Belfast City to Nottingham East Midlands service is to commence on the 26th of March, initially as a daily service, and will increase up to double daily from mid-April. The daily flights between Belfast City-Newcastle will commence on the 28th of April. Tickets are on sale now at www.aerlingus.com

 

Already providing connectivity to Birmingham, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Exeter, Glasgow, Leeds Bradford, Manchester, and Southampton from Belfast, the two new services to Newcastle and Nottingham East Midlands, in addition to the airline’s Summer services to Jersey and Newquay, further cements its intention to provide efficient, great value, and sustainable air travel between Northern Ireland and Great Britain.

 

Commenting on the announcement, Ciarán Smith, Head of Commercial at Emerald Airlines said:  "We are very pleased to be strengthening our schedule out of Belfast City Airport.  As the demand for travel options from Belfast only increases, these two new routes will no doubt be warmly welcomed. Earlier this week we announced that we will be adding 15,000+ seats immediately across our existing network from Belfast City, and we will continue to grow these services in the months ahead.”

 

With more flights and more choice for the travelling public, the airline is progressively bolstering its Summer 2023 Schedule. Emerald Airlines will add 180,000+ extra seats this Summer from Belfast City Airport, operating over 400 weekly flights this Summer to and from Belfast.

 

Katy Best, Commercial Director at Belfast City Airport, said:  “Following the collapse of Flybe, East Midlands and Newcastle were the airline’s only destinations not served by other carriers from Belfast City Airport. Having Emerald Airlines step-up and operate the Aer Lingus Regional services on both routes, in addition to its already extensive network from Belfast City, is therefore excellent news as it leaves no Flybe destination unserved.

 

Maintaining a robust route network and ensuring connectivity to and from Northern Ireland remains our priority, and we look forward to continuing and developing our successful partnership with Emerald Airlines.”

 

For industry colleagues who have been adversely impacted by the Flybe administration announcement, Emerald Airlines is holding open interviews on Thursday and Friday, 2nd and 3rd of February in Maldron Hotel, Belfast. Based in Belfast City Airport, these roles include Direct Entry Captains, Co-Pilots, and Cabin Crew.

 

Aer Lingus shifts London - Knock service from Gatwick to Heathrow

Aer Lingus has announced a shift away from London Gatwick to London Heathrow for its Ireland West Airport Knock service, which aims to support connectivity for the West and boost the local economy and tourism. The change takes effect from 26th March 2023 and will operate daily. Customers already booked on this route to/from Gatwick will be automatically rebooked on a same-day flight.*

The majority of visitors to Ireland are from Great Britain (42%), followed by the US (15%), and this new route aims to boost direct and connecting inbound tourism to the West.[1] Aer Lingus aims to take advantage of the growing trend of screen tourism, which Tourism Ireland has identified as a key opportunity for 2023, with films like the Banshees of Inisherin showcasing the West of Ireland to a global audience.[2] Ireland West Airport is also a gateway to the Wild Atlantic Way, with nine of the fifteen signature discovery points located within a 60-80 minute drive from the airport.

The announcement reinforces Aer Lingus’s commitment to Ireland West Airport Knock, as the airport continues to rebound after Covid, with passenger numbers increasing by 314% last year, reaching 89% of the record-breaking year of 2019[3].

Aer Lingus expects that the convenience of London Heathrow’s location will drive additional point-to-point demand and increased connecting traffic.  Reid Moody Chief Strategy and Planning Officer at Aer Lingus said: "With a direct service to one of Europe’s busiest airports, customers from the West will now be able to easily connect from Heathrow to destinations right across the globe. The service will also drive inbound tourism at a time when interest in visiting the West of Ireland is very high, with the Oscar nominated Banshees of Inisherin showcasing the beauty of the West of Ireland to millions of people globally.”

Welcoming the news, Joe Gilmore, Managing Director, of Ireland West Airport commented:   "This is a major development for the West and Northwest regions as it opens up key onward connectivity, through one of Europe’s biggest hubs, to over 80 destinations worldwide. The hub status of Heathrow for businesses to connect with the global marketplace is a potential game changer for this region, and from a tourism perspective, the service will deliver a significant increase in tourism visits from all corners of the globe. I have no doubt the service will get huge support from the business community and leisure travellers both here and abroad and we thank Aer Lingus for this strong vote of confidence in the airport and West of Ireland region.”

[1] https://www.tourismireland.com/docs/default-source/visitor-facts-and-figures/visitor-facts-and-figures-2019.pdf?sfvrsn=d5913554_1

[2] https://www.tourismireland.com/news-and-press-releases/press-releases/article/tourism-ireland-launches-2023-marketing-plans

[3] https://www.irelandwestairport.com/news/ireland-west-airport-reports-strong-performance-in-2022-as-722k-passengers-use-the-airport

Aer Lingus announces three new European destinations for Summer 2023

Aer Lingus has unveiled a bumper 2023 summer schedule which will see it fly to 53 European destinations from Ireland, including three new exciting summer routes to Kos (Greece), Olbia (Sardinia, Italy) and Brindisi (Italy).

Aer Lingus also has over 2.25 million transatlantic seats on sale, making it the airline’s largest ever North American summer schedule to date. Next summer the airline will operate 15 routes from Ireland, including Cleveland for the first time and the return of Hartford, Connecticut. It will also operate two* direct transatlantic routes from Manchester to JFK and Orlando.  

Kos (Greece), Olbia (Sardinia, Italy) and Brindisi (Italy) revealed as part of Aer Lingus’ Summer 2023 programme

Aer Lingus increases seats to Euro-Leisure destinations by 18% vs. last year reflecting consumer demand for sun

Biggest ever transatlantic schedule with 2.25 million seats to North America and 20% more seats from Ireland vs. 2019

Travel trends predict demand for sun destinations, solo-travel and desire for cultural experiences in 2023

The summer 2023 schedule reflects the huge resurgence in leisure travel and the increasing demand for European sun destinations, particularly the Mediterranean. Aer Lingus is increasing its peak summer capacity to Malaga and Faro from both Cork and Dublin. It is also increasing capacity on other popular European routes including, Alicante, Gran Canaria, Tenerife, Perpignan, Izmir, Bordeaux, and Athens from Dublin.

Tapping into Travel Trends

Industry insights reveal growing travel trends for 2023, with Forbes highlighting two interesting motivations for choice in 2023 - a feeling of familiarity when travelling as well as the quest to follow a path less travelled. Condé Nast Traveller’s fifth annual travel summit also reports very similar travel motivations for 2023, the key trends highlight people seeking experiences rather than destinations; solo travellers joining group trips with strangers; travellers splurging more than ever; and major interest in traveling to learn a new skill. Aer Lingus’ three new summer destinations will allow travellers to tap into these trends as each provides many different types of experiences to be enjoyed by those feeling wanderlust in 2023.

Summer 2023 is set to be a year of continuing resurgence in a post-pandemic world. As the demand for summer travel returned in force last year, as Irish consumers look to the skies after past summers of staycations. 2023 is forecasted to show strong demand for family favourite holiday destinations like Spain and Portugal which offer the comfort and reassurance of the familiar.  Whereas younger generations seek adventure along the paths less travelled, like the streets of beautiful Brindisi and the sandy beaches of Sardinia. Popular booking website, Sky Scanner, also released research for 2023 stating that one in four are considering solo travel this year.

Europe for Summer

Greek Islands

What better destination for a summer experience than a sandy beach and beautiful views? Greek island Kos, new to Aer Lingus’ summer schedule, is steeped in rich culture and surrounded by warm, clear waters and is a perfect holiday destination. Island hoppers can also discover other popular Greek islands such as Corfu and Santorini this summer.

Culture Capitals

According to Glamour Magazine’s 2023 Travel Trends, travellers are also ready to buckle up and head to culture capitals of the world to whet their appetite for change. Aer Lingus is meeting this demand with two cultural destinations that won’t disappoint. Flying into Olbia in Sardinia, a town filled with medieval history and sandy beaches, this destination provides all the culture with a dash of beach escapism, the perfect balance! Taking a flight to Brindisi, a city steeped in history, holidaymakers can take in beautiful scenery of both sea and city views of the Apulia region.

IAG Cargo expands transatlantic capacity with the restart of Dublin to Miami

On Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays from 31st October, an Aer Lingus A330-300 will operate between Dublin and Miami.  Photo IAG/Aer Lingus

             IAG Cargo announces the restart of flights between Dublin and Miami on 21st October, for the first time since the pandemic.

This direct service will increase to three times a week from 31st October

This route will facilitate the movement of pharmaceuticals and medical equipment

 

IAG Cargo, the cargo division of International Airlines Group (IAG), announces that on Friday 21st October, it will be restarting its direct service between Dublin and Miami airport.

This service will initially operate twice weekly, then will increase to three times a week on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays from 31st October on an Aer Lingus A330-300. This widebody aircraft will facilitate the transportation of up 20 tonnes of cargo, which is equivalent to 7 aircraft pallets.

This capacity will support the pharmaceutical industry with IAG Cargo’s Dublin hub ideally located to serve the growing pharmaceutical market operating in Ireland. Approximately 120 overseas companies have plants in Ireland including 9 of the 10 largest pharmaceutical companies in the world.

Certified under the Irish Exporters Association (IEA) GDP passport program, IAG Cargo has the ability and expertise to move pharmaceutical and medical products that require temperature sensitive handling.

Daniel Byrne, Regional Commercial Manager UK and Ireland at IAG Cargo commented: “It’s great to see our once popular Dublin to Miami route back in action. Dublin Airport is home to our sister airline, Aer Lingus, and is a central hub for our Constant Climate network. I’m very pleased to be offering our customers the opportunity to transport vital pharmaceutical cargo and medical equipment between Europe and the USA. As the air cargo industry heads into the busy Q4 period, it’s important as a company that we continue to revive and introduce routes across our expansive wide-body network”.

Pravin Singh, Vice President Commercial, Americas at IAG Cargo added: “Miami is one of our latest transatlantic routes to resume on Aer Lingus and we’re excited to be building back our USA connectivity this year. We look forward to providing this service for our customers to our base in Dublin, following a temporary pause. Miami is an important part of our network, allowing customers to also move their products from Central and South America through our interline partners, supplementing our own capacity”.

IAG Cargo continues to expand its network, now offering 10 destinations into the USA and Canada from Dublin including New York, Boston, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. 

You could own your very own Airbus A330 - this time in the colours of fellow IAG airline, Iberia.

This is available from Aircraft Models for just £19.99.  See here for order details as well as hundreds of other aircraft in various liveries.

 

Aer Lingus welcomes its first Airbus A320neo

Pictured are Aer Lingus First Officer Conor Murray, cabin crew members Oisin Leong and Kellie Woods, and Aer Lingus Director of Fleet Lander Dominguez Ruiz as Aer Lingus took delivery of its first Airbus A320neo aircraft (registration EI-NSA, named Saint Thomas), which went into service at the end of last month with a flight from the carriers home base of Dublin to London's Heathrow Airport. 

 

The Airbus A320neo delivers up to 20% reduction in fuel burn and CO2 emissions and close to 50% reduction in noise footprint when compared to previous generation aircraft, A320ceo. There is a greater density of seats (186) on the A320neo aircraft resulting in lower fuel emissions per seat/passenger on board.

This is the first of two new Airbus A320neo aircraft that Aer Lingus has leased from CDB Aviation, with the second aircraft also joining the fleet this week. The aircraft will be part of Aer Lingus’ shorthaul fleet, predominantly operating London Heathrow routes. They replace two previous generation aircraft, Airbus A320ceo, which will be retired from the fleet.

The new generation aircraft will support the airline’s sustainability programme where Aer Lingus, as part of IAG, has pledged to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050 and has committed to powering 10% of its flights using sustainable aviation fuel by 2030.

Aer Lingus to operate an Airbus A321neo LR on new route from Dublin to Cleveland

Cleveland to become new US Destination for Aer Lingus Photo Aer Lingus/Getty

Aer Lingus will be adding a new transatlantic route for summer 2023 which will see the airline operate an Airbus A321neoLR for its first service to Cleveland, Ohio direct from Dublin. The new route is scheduled to start on 19th May 2023 and will fly four times a week. The Dublin-based IAG carrier will then operate 15 transatlantic routes from Ireland and will be the only direct European service from Cleveland. The airline also operates three long-haul services from its Manchester base in the UK. Rebuilding connectivity and growing its transatlantic network is critical to Aer Lingus’ long-term growth strategy as it continues its recovery following the pandemic. The announcement of Cleveland as a new destination demonstrates the airline’s commitment to connecting Europe to North America via its Hub in Dublin Airport.

Aer Lingus will now offer the only direct European service from Cleveland. Travellers from Cleveland will not only benefit from a direct connection to Ireland but can also avail of the seamless onward connections to more than 20 key European cities - London, Paris, Manchester, Dusseldorf, Brussels, Lyon, Amsterdam and Edinburgh, among others.

Aer Lingus sale takes off.....

The days might be getting shorter signalling the end of summer, but excitement and fun can still prevail with the Aer Lingus ‘Take Off’ Sale. Anyone who books a trip to Europe, or North America between 6th – 19th September can take money off their ticket price, while also ‘taking-off’ from the daily grind of the darker time of year. With flights starting at €29.99 to Europe and €149 for flights to North America, now is the perfect time to book an Autumn – Winter break.

Take-Off Sale runs from 6th – 19th September

Europe offers valid for travel between 1st October 2022 and 15th February 2023

North America offers valid for travel between 1st November 2022 and 31st March 2023

Book by midnight 19th September 2022 

Aer Lingus wants to fuel people’s hunger for adventure by providing exciting destinations at delectable prices in their September sale which runs from Tuesday 6th to Monday 19th September. With travel dates running from 1st October 2022 through 31st March 2023, that’s six months of travel opportunities at deducted prices. Aer Lingus provides a take-off to the skies right through autumn, winter, and spring, banishing any end-of-summer-blues!

Whether it is a glass of red wine in Paris, a bowl of warm pasta in Rome or a pumpkin spice latte in New York City, picturesque and relaxing holidays awaits with Aer Lingus. Hop on a flight to a popular European destination, such as Berlin, Naples, Paris, Madrid, Vienna, Amsterdam, and Lanzarote, or get a taste of the American dream with deals to New York, Boston, LA or Miami. Whatever the travel fix, Aer Lingus has the destination covered.

Susanne Carberry, Chief Customer Officer Aer Lingus, commented, “Aer Lingus is delighted to offer customers the opportunity to travel to exciting destinations at sale prices. We recognise the Irish appetite for travel and adventure and our Take-Off Sale is the ideal opportunity for people to book a getaway that they can look forward to during the long evenings. We continue to reaffirm our commitment to delivering a network of travel destinations that are accessibly priced for our customers.”

The small print.....

Fare details: Flights starting from €29.99 to Europe and from €149 to North America

All offers are subject to conditions and availability and all fares include taxes and charges.

Booking period: 6th – 19th September

All destinations are included in the sale

Europe offers valid for travel between 1st October 2022 and 15th February 2023

North America offers valid for travel between 1st November 2022 and 31st March

Book by midnight 19th September

Full terms at Aer Lingus website

Aer Lingus Regional Services to Cardiff and Southampton Take Off From Belfast City Airport

New services to Cardiff and Southampton have taken off from George Best Belfast City Airport with Aer Lingus Regional, operated by Emerald Airlines.

 

The new routes will provide passengers with additional choice and frequency when connecting with Wales and the south coast of England.

 

Michelle Hatfield, Corporate Services Director at Belfast City Airport, said:   “As one of the largest airline partners at Belfast City Airport, the addition of more Aer Lingus Regional services is fantastic for both business and leisure passengers wishing to travel to the UK. Passengers have been asking for further connections to Cardiff and Southampton and we are thrilled that we have been able to deliver in time for the busy summer period.”

 

Aer Lingus Regional’s service from Belfast City Airport to Cardiff is the only air link to Wales from Northern Ireland, giving passengers convenient and cost-effective connections to the Welsh capital.

 

Commenting on the announcement, Ciarán Smith, Head of Commercial at Emerald Airlines said:   “We are delighted to commence our Cardiff and Southampton services from Belfast, providing those travelling from Belfast with more choice when planning their holidays. When quick getaways are on the top of everyone’s mind, we are offering convenient timings and low fares, increasing connectivity to and from Northern Ireland. 

CDB Aviation Leases Two A320neo Aircraft to Aer Lingus

CDB Aviation, a wholly-owned Irish subsidiary of China Development Bank Financial Leasing Co., Limited, has agreed to lease two Airbus A320neo aircraft to the Irish flag carrier, Aer Lingus, for delivery during this summer season. The transaction marks the introduction of the first A320neo variant in the airline’s growing fleet.

The aircraft, which are fitted with 186 seats in an all-economy layout, will be delivered to Aer Lingus in July 2022 and will become part of the backbone of its short-haul fleet, operating on routes between Ireland and European destinations.

“We are very pleased to be joining our new European customer, Aer Lingus, on their flight path toward a carbon-neutral future through the financing of their inaugural A320neos,” commented Peter Goodman, CDB Aviation’s Chief Marketing Officer. “These latest-generation aircraft will well complement Aer Lingus’ strategic investments in their future fuel-efficient, modern fleet.”

Aer Lingus is part of IAG, the first airline group worldwide to commit to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The group is targeting to achieve a 10% reduction in CO2 per passenger kilometre by 2025 and a 20% reduction in net emissions by 2030.

Speaking about the acquisition of two new aircraft for Aer Lingus’ short-haul fleet, Lynne Embleton, CEO of Aer Lingus, said: “This is a great opportunity to bring new, state-of-the-art aircraft into our short-haul fleet. Renewing our fleet is one of the key ways for Aer Lingus to meet our sustainability targets, which is a priority for us over the coming years.”

"The new generation Airbus A320neo aircraft is much more sustainable in terms of fuel burn and CO2 emissions, and this is not only important to Aer Lingus but also to our customers. Equally, the more environmentally friendly aircraft incur lower landing charges in some key airports, so these new A320neos will help us to reduce costs,” added Embleton.

Patrick Hannigan, CDB Aviation’s Chief Executive Officer, concluded: “Our teams worked hand in hand to expediently execute this transaction as an important element of the Irish flag carrier’s recovery plan from the impact of the pandemic on air travel. The A320neo’s operating advantages will also further strengthen Aer Lingus’ leading position among European airlines in enhancing connectivity with a focus on improving efficiency and reducing aviation’s environmental footprint.”

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Aer Lingus launches its 2022 Aircraft Maintenance and Engineering Apprentice Scheme

Aer Lingus has today launched its 2022 Aircraft Maintenance & Engineering Apprentice Scheme and is calling on motivated, enthusiastic, and technically minded candidates to apply for the four year programme.  Aer Lingus has a longstanding apprenticeship programme and is offering 10 places on the scheme this year and is keen to encourage a mix of female and male candidates. 

 

Successful applicants who complete the programme will be fully qualified aircraft engineers and will continue to work at Aer Lingus.  This forward-looking programme helps ensure Aer Lingus has access to a pipeline of talented and qualified engineers for future growth.

The four year Aer Lingus Aircraft Maintenance & Engineering Apprentice Scheme is run in conjunction with both SOLAS, the State further education and training agency, based in Shannon, and Technological University Dublin. It consists of seven phases and through each phase successful applicants will move between classroom training in both Shannon and Dublin, and on the job training at the Aer Lingus Maintenance and Engineering Hangar at Dublin Airport. Apprentices will be working primarily on line maintenance and will be focused on the delivery of Aer Lingus’ guest experience.

The launch of this year’s apprenticeship scheme comes at a pivotal time for the airline as it continues its recovery from the pandemic and returns to full capacity and growth. The investment in our people, including the Aircraft Maintenance & Engineering Apprentice Scheme, will help underpin this strategy.

Aer Lingus Chief Technical Officer, Javier Jimenez, said: “Aer Lingus has a proud history of providing opportunities to people starting out on their careers. Since we launched the Aircraft Apprentice Scheme in 2011, we have hired 113 maintenance and engineering apprentices directly from the programme.  We continued to recruit new apprentices during the pandemic, and this year we are again looking for highly motivated and technically minded candidates to apply for the programme.  This is an opportunity to build a rewarding career in aircraft maintenance and engineering at an exciting time in aviation as we move to a carbon neutral future. With our unique brand, world class reputation and modern fleet, Aer Lingus is at the forefront of commercial aviation, giving successful candidates the opportunity to be part of something special.”

Exeter Airport celebrates launch of Belfast flights

Exeter Airport is celebrating the launch of new flights to Belfast with up to five flights a week with Emerald Airlines.

 
Emerald Airlines, the exclusive operator of Aer Lingus Regional flights has started another brand new service,  this time from Exeter Airport to Belfast. 

This new route started on Thursday, 26 May and is the second route from Exeter operated by Emerald Airlines, following the launch of new flights to Dublin last month, with seamless connections and US customs and immigration pre-clearance to New York, Boston, Chicago, Washington and Toronto on Aer Lingus’ North American network.

Stephen Wiltshire, Managing Director of Exeter Airport, said: “Belfast is a popular route from Exeter and we’re delighted so see flights start today. It means we’ll be offering 29 destinations for 2022/23 and providing passengers across the region with even more choice from their local airport.”

Ciarán Smith, Head of Commercial at Emerald Airlines, said the new route was part of an expansion of services from its Belfast base, which will also see the addition of two new ultra-low fuel burn aircraft to its fleet.

Exeter Airport which began operating in 1937, is a UK Certified Aerodrome with a runway lenth of 2076 metres. 

He added: “The launch of our Exeter service comes just in time for the long bank holiday weekend, allowing passengers to book last-minute getaways with convenient timings and low fares, making the most of their time off.”

For details of all 29 destinations available from Exeter Airport in 2022-23 visit https://www.exeter-airport.co.uk/flights-holidays/

 Help for Heroes.

Help for Heroes Charity helps to rebuild the lives of those with injuries and illnesses sustained while serving in the British Armed Forces. No matter when someone served, H4H give them the support they need to lead active, independent and fulfilling lives. They provide support to the whole family to help them all cope with the challenges they face. Long-term recovery is more than repairing damaged bodies and minds; it’s about rebuilding lives.

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