Aer Lingus is launching a service to a new US city, helped by the arrival of its new aircraft model.
Starting in May 2025, Ireland’s flag carrier will offer new nonstop flights from Indianapolis International Airport (IND) to its hub at Dublin Airport (DUB), Indianapolis airport leaders said Monday.
The route will connect the Midwest city with the Emerald Isle using the Airbus A321XLR, a long-haul, single-aisle aircraft that is scheduled to join airlines around the world in the next few weeks.
Adding Dublin to Indy’s route map will also give the Hoosier State its first transatlantic flight since before the coronavirus pandemic.
“Reopening the much needed and requested transatlantic route for our dear friends in Ireland will open up new opportunities for business and leisure alike,” said Gov. Eric Holcomb, Republican of Indiana, in a statement on Monday.
Aer Lingus’ new Indianapolis service
Aer Lingus will fly its new Indianapolis-to-Dublin route four times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
Flights begin on May 3, 2025.
Passengers will be able to book non-stop flights to Ireland probably throughout the year; flights will stop briefly in January and February – the winter months when air travel is generally the slowest of the year.
The new European service should prove to be a big leg up in Indianapolis.
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Before the pandemic, Delta Air Lines connected the airport with Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG). But that service — along with the airport’s flights to Europe — disappeared in early 2020 and hasn’t returned since.
At the same time, Indianapolis has otherwise seen strong aviation growth. The total number of seats on commercial flights departing from the airport is expected to grow by 6% in 2024 compared to 2023, according to data from aviation analysis company Cirium.
And, excluding Europe, seats from Indy increased by more than 12% in 2019.
The airport currently has short-haul international service to Cancun International Airport (CUN) in Mexico on American Airlines and Southwest Airlines and to Toronto Pearson Airport (YYZ) on Air Canada.
Related: Comfort and convenience in the heart of the city: Conrad Dublin review
Airbus A321XLR opens new routes
The new Dublin service from Indianapolis is made possible, in part, by an aircraft that will be used by Aer Lingus to fly the route.
The A321XLR, scheduled to join the airline’s fleet for the first time later this fall, offers an unprecedented range for a thin-body jet.
With lower operating costs and fewer seats than a large widebody, the aircraft opens up opportunities for carriers to connect smaller cities in the US and Europe to strengthen traffic between the two continents. And it makes it possible to connect major US cities with many places that are not easy to hit abroad.
Earlier this month, Aer Lingus announced a new route to Nashville with this flight.
Spanish airline Iberia – part of the International Airlines Group, which also owns Aer Lingus and British Airways – is expected to launch the industry’s first XLR route to the US from Madrid in November. It will fly from Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) to Boston Logan International Airport (BOS).
Many of these A321XLRs offer the same type of seats and onboard amenities typically found on large wide-body aircraft. For example, American Airlines, which has large orders for XLRs, plans to add its flagship Business suits and premium economy seats to the planes. It will begin replacing its popular four-cabin A321T jets on major US intercontinental routes.
On the other hand, Aer Lingus already operates narrow-body jets on certain East Coast destinations, but it seems that the arrival of the long-haul A321XLR will give the carrier more opportunities to serve cities in the far west that may not support one of the major cities. airplanes.
An air service analysis by regional leaders in Indianapolis found an average of 545 people fly from Indianapolis to Europe every day.
Related: I Took a Nostalgia Flight on American Airlines’ Soon-to-Retire International Flagship First: Here’s Where You Can Still Get It
How to book Aer LIngus with points and miles
Hoping to book an Aer Lingus flight using points and miles? There are a number of ways you can transfer credit card points to Aer Lingus AerClub, including:
- Transfer American Express membership rewards points, Chase Ultimate Rewards points or Bilt Reward Points directly to AerClub.
- Transfer Capital One miles or Citi ThankYou Reward points to British Airways Executive Club, then transfer those Avios to AerClub (British Airways and Aer Lingus share a parent company and Avios loyalty fee).
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