A new airline partnership has opened up a range of key links to US cities from UK regional airports.
Irish flag carrier Aer Lingus has announced that it has entered into a 10-year franchise agreement with Emerald Airlines to operate regional flights to UK hubs from January 1, 2023.
The agreement will support Aer Lingus’s Dublin Hub strategy by providing connectivity for UK regional airports to North America via the Irish capital. It will offer connections between Ireland and regional airports in the UK, the Isle of Man and Jersey, with options for network expansion to further airports in the future.
The new deal could also mean more than 400 new jobs between now and the commencement of services in 2023. Although some routes could begin earlier.
Lynne Embleton, Aer Lingus chief executive, said: “ Aer Lingus’s strategic intent to develop Dublin Airport as a hub between Europe and the US, to deliver greater connectivity and aviation jobs, is significantly boosted by the announcement.
“This franchise agreement with Emerald Airlines marks a new chapter in Aer Lingus Regional services and brings choice and certainty to our customers flying between Ireland, the UK and beyond. We very much look forward to partnering with Emerald Airlines, and to growing and developing Aer Lingus Regional over the coming years.”
Conor McCarthy, Emerald Airlines founder and chief executive, added: “The combined strengths of both airlines will allow us to offer optimised connectivity from popular cities and routes across Ireland, the UK and beyond.
“As we add additional aircraft to our fleet we will be recruiting more than 400 new staff members – a great boost for the industry which has been so badly impacted by the pandemic.”
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