Aer Lingus has just revealed its second new long haul route for 2026, after announcing flights to Raleigh-Durham (RDU). I’m a big fan of how Aer Lingus keeps expanding to secondary markets in the United States, since that’s great in terms of connectivity…
Continue reading: Aer Lingus Launching Dublin To Pittsburgh Flights As Of May 2026
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The only reason this route is launching is a HUGE subsidy. Just like Denver. Just like Indianapolis when Delta flew Indianapolis to Paris. In Nashville, Aer Lingus is getting $6.5 million to fly the route. That's nothing compared to Cleveland, which offered $12 million. https://www.alleghenyinstitute.org/girding-for-a-massive-aer-lingus-subsidy/
@Lucky you're missing a destination...Las Vegas. I flew this segment in Business Class just 2 days ago. Flight EI51, it was a good experience. The inflight crew was excellent, the catering was good enough. It was pleasure to fly back home and not have to connect via ORD, EWR, IAD, etc.
I will continue to book away from this airline until they FULLY join OneWorld and give members with status the benefits that American and British and Iberia, etc. give.
If only they honored the AA status partnership they have. Nobody that works at the airline seems to know about the benefits.
Surprised BNA has to offer incentives to attract airlines. Figured they would focus their resources on Southwest, since they are already a focus city of the airline.
I agree that Pittsburgh is a cool city, though downtown is almost completely devoid of real retail shopping (Target doesn’t count). It’s sad that big-city downtowns no longer have a proper flagship department store. That aside, Pittsburgh can’t sustainably support transatlantic flights—it only gets them because of heavy subsidies. Pittsburgh is also close enough to Cleveland that budget-conscious passengers will drive if the airfare is significantly cheaper.
FWIW the BNA incentives are over 3 years, up to 2.75m but it's variable based upon passenger figures, and are primarily fee waivers rather than outright cash subsidies. BNA subsidizes for several reasons but one of which is that they push airlines to serve large portions of the year (i.e. you must serve over 156 days to receive the money). A portion of the EI subsidy is to actually help cover the costs of the pre-clearance facility at DUB
I would argue that with the exception of historical department stores, retail brings little to a city's downtown. Pittsburgh's coolness is defined by its history, culture/architecture, and sports franchises and major retail centers are not a priority for people looking for those things in a city
As to whether Pittsburgh can support transatlantic flights, I have an inkling whether it can or not also has to do with its tech sector. I'm skeptical as well but there's at least the understanding that Europe flights at PIT are not new
For those of us that are in the Pittsburgh market and are airport and flight enthusiasts we have been anticipating aer lingus to launch Pittsburgh flights for a while. Very excited to see our non hub airport get more trans Atlantic service and a new landslide terminal.
Pittsburgh and Dublin both have big Google offices, Ireland has a lot tech companies due to some pretty lax taxation rules. EI is owned by IAG and part of the JV so this will be down to them knowing the yields BA are getting.
It’s a small efficient plane, This will work.
Now THAT is strange. There are many other second-tier cities begging for transatlantic capacity (Tampa, Charlotte, Louisville, etc, etc, etc), this just seems like a bit of an odd choice. Anyone have any insight?
Wouldn't make sense unfortunately. Look at how UA, AA, DL have all tried TATL service from MCI with little success.
Agreed. That would be as successful as a set of undescended little you-know-whats.
PIT is also near Carnegie Mellon, so pretty good at producing new talent for tech jobs in both countries.
I would say retail can be a huge boon to a city's downtown. It brings people in, provides street life and people who go shopping will then go to a cafe, bar or other amenity. Look at New York, Boston and Montreal. UK cities like London, Manchester, Glasgow and Edinburgh or Melbourne and Sydney in Australia. All downtowns which are full of shops and are buzzy.
Ugh, disgusting choice. We don't want more of those damn seppos going to Ireland and spreading their privilege, entitlement, and audacity.
Leave Europe alone.
Shut the hell up with your boring ass stereotypical remarks. If it wasn't for the potatoes, you damn Yankees wouldn't have everything that makes you lot whales.
They don't want you and your seppo privilege, entitlement, and audacity anyway.
No they shouldn't. No one wants to go to that hellhole, entire country of the US included.
Yeah, entire planeloads of Yankee Doodle clowns claiming they're Irish because their great-great-great-great-great-grandparent's uncle's twice-removed cousin's neighbour's dog is from the village in County Sligo.
Note to Americans - you ain't fecking Irish.