International Airlines Group (IAG) announced via LinkedIn a major milestone in Aer Lingus’s transatlantic expansion, with the addition of eight new routes since 2023. The carrier has launched nonstop services from Dublin to Cleveland, Denver, Las Vegas, Indianapolis, Nashville, Cancun, Minneapolis–St. Paul, and most recently, Raleigh-Durham.

This brings the total number of direct transatlantic routes operated by Aer Lingus to 26, up from just 12 when the airline joined IAG in 2015. The growth is underpinned by the airline’s successful Dublin hub strategy, which leverages U.S. Customs and Border Protection pre-clearance and strong connectivity across Ireland, the UK, Europe, and North America. Connecting traffic through Dublin is expected to reach 35–40% in 2025.

A key enabler of this network expansion is the Airbus A321XLR. Aer Lingus was among the early adopters of the narrowbody long-range aircraft, with five already in service with sixth aircraft arriving by end-2025. The fuel-efficient type allows Aer Lingus to serve thinner, previously unviable long-haul routes year-round, while supporting the airline’s sustainability targets.

Image Credit: Nashville International Airport

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