DUBLIN- Aer Lingus (EI), the national airline of Ireland, has announced the launch of a new transatlantic route between Dublin (DUB) and Indianapolis (IND), a major business hub in the mid-western United States.
The route, operated by the airline’s Airbus A321XLR aircraft, will create a direct link between Ireland and the state of Indiana, as well as the wider region.
Aer Lingus Indianapolis Flights
Commencing on May 3, 2025, the new route will be the only direct connection between Indianapolis and Europe. This development is expected to foster closer economic and business ties between Ireland and the U.S. Midwest.
Lynne Embleton, chief executive of Aer Lingus, stated, “With Indianapolis’ vibrant industries and rich cultural heritage, and Dublin’s strategic position as a gateway to Europe, this new route will facilitate partnerships and opportunities on both sides of the Atlantic.”
The announcement comes as pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly, headquartered in Indianapolis, has seen a steady increase in passengers following its expansion across Ireland.
In September, the company announced a €1.6 billion investment to expand its manufacturing footprint in Ireland, ramping up production capacity across its Cork and Limerick sites.
With the addition of Indianapolis, Aer Lingus’ U.S. network now includes Boston (BOS), Chicago (ORD), Cleveland (CLE), Denver (DEN), Hartford (BDL), Los Angeles (LAX), Miami (MIA), Minneapolis (MSP), New York (JFK), Nashville (BNA), Newark (EWR), Orlando (MCO), Philadelphia (PHL), San Francisco (SFO), Seattle (SEA), and Washington (IAD).
Executive Remarks
Eric J. Holcomb, the Governor of Indiana, welcomed the news, stating, “Reopening a much-needed and frequently requested transatlantic route will once again open new opportunities for business and leisure alike.”
Mario Rodriguez, the Executive Director of the Indianapolis Airport Authority, also expressed his enthusiasm, saying, “The Indianapolis International Airport (IND) and Aer Lingus make an excellent connection. With customs preclearance in Dublin, Irish travelers can begin to experience everything Indianapolis has to offer the moment they arrive in the United States.”
The addition of the Indianapolis route follows Aer Lingus’ recent announcement of a new route to Nashville, Tennessee, bringing the total number of Aer Lingus routes from Dublin to North America to nineteen.
Lynne Embleton, the Chief Executive of Aer Lingus, highlighted the strategic importance of the new route, stating, “With Indianapolis’ vibrant industries and rich cultural heritage, and Dublin’s strategic position as a gateway to Europe, this new route will facilitate partnerships and opportunities on both sides of the Atlantic.”
Flight Schedule
The route will operate four times weekly, with flights on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.
The Dublin to Indianapolis route will be operated using Aer Lingus’ Airbus A321LR aircraft, featuring a total of 184 seats, including 16 in business class and 168 in economy class. However, it is expected that the airline will eventually deploy its newly acquired Airbus A321XLR on this route.
- The flight is scheduled to depart Dublin at 2:50 PM, arriving in Indianapolis at 6:25 PM.
- The return flight from Indianapolis to Dublin will depart at 7:55 PM, arriving at 8:50 AM the following day.
The westbound flight is blocked at 8 hours and 35 minutes, while the eastbound flight is scheduled for 7 hours and 55 minutes, OMAAT reported.
Aer Lingus’ expansion into Indianapolis is a significant development for the city, as this will be the airport’s first transatlantic link in years. Before the pandemic, Delta Air Lines (DL) briefly operated a route from Indianapolis to Paris (CDG), but it was ultimately cut and never resumed.
To incentivize Aer Lingus’ new route, the local community is expected to provide the airline with significant financial support. This is a common practice for airports targeting new international services, intending to make the route economically viable.
For example, when Delta launched its Indianapolis to Paris flights, the airline received up to $5.5 million in subsidies from the local community.
Despite Aer Lingus’ membership in the oneworld transatlantic joint venture, which includes American, British Airways, Finnair, and Iberia, the airline appears to operate somewhat independently, with a lower level of coordination compared to the other alliance partners.
Feature Image by (2) Tobi (@Tobias_Gudat) / X
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