Dublin-Minneapolis-St. Paul route resumes, expanding Aer Lingus' North American network.


Key Points:

  • Aer Lingus announces a new direct flight from Dublin to Denver and the resumption of the Dublin-Minneapolis-St. Paul route.

  • The additions expand Aer Lingus’ North American services to 18, with the airline capitalizing on Dublin's ideal transatlantic location.

  • Both new routes cater to leisure, business travelers, and aim to amplify tourism to Ireland from the US.

DUBLIN — Aer Lingus has unveiled its new direct flight from Dublin to Denver, Colorado, slated to commence for the summer 2024 season. Additionally, the airline is set to rejuvenate its direct service between Dublin and the twin cities of Minneapolis-St. Paul in Minnesota.

Starting May 17, the Dublin-Denver route will fly four times a week, with ticket prices beginning at €355 each way. On the other hand, the Minneapolis-St. Paul service is scheduled to initiate from April 29, operating four times a week and transitioning to a daily service by October 2024, priced from €295 each way.

The airline will deploy Airbus A330 aircraft for both destinations. However, the Minneapolis-St. Paul route will see an upgrade to the more modern A321XLR aircraft from the subsequent winter season.

Aer Lingus’ expansion in North American services is a testament to its 'Dub Hub' strategy, which envisions Dublin Airport as the linchpin for transatlantic travel. Lynne Embleton, the airline's CEO, highlighted Dublin’s strategic geographical positioning as Europe's entry point. Emphasizing the long-standing Ireland-America connection, she stated, “Aer Lingus is uniquely positioned to bridge the two continents."

This year's summer season boasted the airline's most expansive transatlantic program, offering 2.25 million seats to destinations in the US and Canada. The recently unveiled routes aim to bolster both vacation and business travels via Dublin Airport, ultimately enhancing tourism in Ireland, noted Ms. Embleton. Siobhan McManamy, Interim CEO of Tourism Ireland, chimed in, emphasizing the direct impact of accessibility on surging visitor count.

Denver, revered as the gateway to the scenic Rockies, is a favorite amongst outdoor enthusiasts and is renowned for the iconic Red Rocks Amphitheatre. On the business front, several Colorado-based corporations, such as Level 3 Communications and Otter Products, have chosen Ireland for their European bases.

The Dublin-Minneapolis-St. Paul connection, initially inaugurated in September 2019, had unfortunately succumbed to the pandemic's impacts. Known for the vast Mall of America and a plethora of outdoor activities, the twin cities straddle the Mississippi river. Several prominent companies like 3M and Medtronic, originating from Minnesota, have established fruitful operations in Ireland, as pointed out by Aer Lingus.