Aer Lingus’ 2023 summer schedule is coming together nicely. A few days ago the airline announced a new route between Dublin and Cleveland, and now the airline has announced the return of service to Hartford.
In this post:
Aer Lingus returning to Bradley Airport in Hartford
Aer Lingus will be restarting direct flights to Connecticut in 2023. Aer Lingus will operate daily seasonal service between Dublin (DUB) and Hartford (BDL) between March 26 and October 28, 2023. The flight will operate with the following schedule:
EI131 Dublin to Hartford departing 2:10PM arriving 4:35PM
EI130 Hartford to Dublin departing 6:00PM arriving 5:15AM (+1 day)
The 3,079-mile flight is blocked at 7hr25min westbound and 6hr15min eastbound. Aer Lingus will use an Airbus A321LR for the service, featuring 184 seats. This includes 16 business class seats and 168 economy class seats. Read my review of Aer Lingus’ A321LR business class.
For context, Aer Lingus first started flying to Connecticut in September 2016, and cut this route in March 2020, at the start of the pandemic. There had been a lot of questions up until now as to whether this route would return.
When it resumes, this will be the only transatlantic flight out of Hartford. This will offer onward connections to 28 destinations in Europe, including Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, London, Madrid, Paris, Prague, Rome, Vienna, and more.
My take on Aer Lingus returning to Hartford
I’m not surprised to see Aer Lingus resume flights to Hartford. There’s a lot of insurance business in the area, Yale University isn’t too far, and there’s also a big Irish population in the area. Add in the great economics of the A321LR and the ability for connecting traffic, and this route seems like a sure bet.
It’s interesting to me, however, that this route is only returning seasonally, while the Cleveland route that’s being launched will be year-round. Presumably this reflects that the Cleveland service is getting significant subsidies from the local community under the condition of service being year-round.
By the way, in October 2021 I wrote about Aer Lingus’ summer 2022 schedule, and about how the airline was cutting Hartford service. To this day, people have been leaving comments on the post begging for Aer Lingus to bring back the route, to an extent that I’ve never seen before. So I’m sure those people will be happy to see this development.
Bottom line
Aer Lingus will be returning to Hartford in the summer of 2023, after a three year route suspension. The airline will operate the route daily seasonally using an Airbus A321LR, and it will be the airport’s only transatlantic service. I know this is a route that many people valued, so it’s nice to see it return.
What do you make of Aer Lingus returning to Bradley Airport?
What is coach class like on the route? Any external reviews you can direct me towards?
I had flown on these flights numerous times in the past and they were always well used so I don’t understand AerLingus’s hesitation in restarting them or why it’s only seasonal. I will note that fares for the new flights are almost twice what they were before.
The Aer Lingus flight to and from Hartford is nothing less than a gift. I am Irish living in CT and try to go home as often as possible. The Hartford flight makes it so easy. Instead of the venture being a whole day, 1 1/2 hr drive to Boston to be there 3 hours before the flight, I can arrive at Bradley 1 1/2 hrs hour before the flight, be checked in and through...
The Aer Lingus flight to and from Hartford is nothing less than a gift. I am Irish living in CT and try to go home as often as possible. The Hartford flight makes it so easy. Instead of the venture being a whole day, 1 1/2 hr drive to Boston to be there 3 hours before the flight, I can arrive at Bradley 1 1/2 hrs hour before the flight, be checked in and through security in minutes and hang out in the lounge before the flight. As I said, a real gift.
Aer Lingus, Please bring the flight back year round, please.
Is there a OneWorld lounge in Hartford?
No, but the Escape lounge there (included if flying Business, or access Free with 2 guests if you have Amex Platinum) is excellent.
When Aer Lingus began flying to Dublin from Hartford I was thrilled. It made it much easier to make my annual November trip to Berlin, Germany. But because I had to make the trip twice in the last three months I had to go either to Boston, New York or Newark making the trip more difficult and much more expensive. Please bring it back year round!!!!
Nuacht iontach! Tá mé ag déanamh staidéir ar an Ghaeilge ag UConn, Storrs mar sin beidh CT-DUB anna-mhaith. Séamus.
Wonderful news! I am studying the Irish Language at UConn, Storrs so CT-DUB will be very good. James
I was scouting tickets between BDL and DUB - just tonight all 2023 fares are unavailable. I think they’re dropping the route. Customer service has no answer.
I have a flight booked for May 2023 and its still showing as an available itinerary, but when i went to Google flighta to find the flight and book it for a friend whos coming with me, its no longer showing as available. Nor is it available on their website. But when you go to British Airways (their partner airline) and look this flight up, its still available to book .. so im hoping its a glitch or theyre updating?
Wonderful news. I was so hoping you would resume this route.
Cleveland has Progressive Insurance, Cleveland Clinics, and Case Western Reserve University.
Cleveland also has Federal Reserve Bank while Connecticut doesn’t have any important financial institution.
C’mon, don’t think Cleveland has nothing worthy business traveling!
So happy !!! So convenient.... no more long trips to Boston. Great for the area and BDL airport.
I have always been mystified by the choice of Aer Lingus to discontinue its Hartford departure and arrival slots. The alternative to fly transatlantic is from JFK or Boston. Both add more than two hours to the journey, coming from mid-Connecticut. So I am delighted by its announcement to resume flying from Hartford. Bring it on.
BDL is my local airport. While I’ll still go to JFK for most transatlantic flights, I look very forward to the route resumption. The throne seat in business is great and service has been good on my 3 trips with them.
Any idea when award availability will open?
If only Aer Lingus joined OneWorld
Wonderful News no more treking to Boston and jfk and spending all day at the airport .My only minor complaint as I’ve flown this route 3 times and the planes are Narrow body so flights are quiet turbulent transatlantic, to the point the seat belt light is on always !
Should probably be noted that turbulent air masses of sufficient strength to mandate seatbelt usage, don't distinguish between whether an aircraft has one row or two....
American code sharing on this flight a huge dream come true but I know the chances are low.
Finally! Now could they please give me AA points/reciprocity?
I'm sure this is coming with a HUGE subsidy. Cleveland just wrote a 7-figure check to Aer Lingus for Cleveland-Dublin service.