Aer Lingus executives have been expressing interest in flying to Las Vegas since at least 2017, if not earlier. This route will finally become a reality as of this fall.
In this post:
Aer Lingus will add Las Vegas route in October 2024
As of October 25, 2024, Aer Lingus will launch a new 3x weekly flight between Dublin (DUB) and Las Vegas (LAS). This will initially operate as a seasonal flight, and is bookable through April 29, 2025 (so that’s quite a long season). The service will operate with the following schedule:
EI51 Dublin to Las Vegas departing 3:20PM arriving 5:50PM
EI50 Las Vegas to Dublin departing 7:35PM arriving 1:10PM (+1 day)
The 4,954-mile flight is blocked at 10hr30min westbound and 9hr35min eastbound. Flights will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, in both directions. Aer Lingus will use an Airbus A330-300 for the route, featuring just under 300 seats, including 30 business class seats. While not cutting edge, I quite like Aer Lingus’ passenger experience in business class, and find the food to be decent, and crews friendly.
This new route to Nevada complements Aer Lingus’ existing flights from Dublin (DUB) to the United States, including to Boston (BOS), Chicago (ORD), Cleveland (CLE), Denver (DEN), Hartford (BDL), Los Angeles (LAX), Miami (MIA), Minneapolis (MSP), Newark (EWR), New York (JFK), Orlando (MCO), Philadelphia (PHL), San Francisco (SFO), Seattle (SEA), and Washington (IAD).
I’m not sure I understand Aer Lingus’ route planning
I’ve gotta be honest, I can’t really make sense of how Aer Lingus chooses destinations at this point, especially when you consider how transatlantic leisure demand has evolved, and also when you consider that Aer Lingus is now in the oneworld transatlantic joint venture, and has ended its codeshare partnership with United.
Given how joint ventures typically work, there’s an element of revenue sharing between airlines, and airlines also coordinate schedules and fares. Yet Aer Lingus’ route network seems quite random.
For example, the airline has largely been adding service to hubs of competing alliances, like Denver and Minneapolis. You might think “oh, that’s probably smart.” Well, no.
Just a few weeks ago, Aer Lingus launched a new route to Minneapolis, and that seems to basically be dead immediately. The route was initially supposed to operate year-round, while the airline has already removed it from the schedule for both the upcoming winter season, as well as the 2025 summer season.
Now, admittedly when Aer Lingus announced its route, Delta matched, which probably contributed to this issue. But is Aer Lingus really surprised that Delta would defend itself at a fortress hub? I mean, I think we all saw that coming.
In this case, I suppose a winter seasonal service to Las Vegas isn’t the worst use of an aircraft, since there’s European demand for Las Vegas in winter. I am curious where Aer Lingus will send the plane in summer, though.
Could we see Aer Lingus integrate a little more into the oneworld joint venture by flying to hubs of partner airlines, whether it’s a flight to Charlotte (CLT), or Dallas (DFW), or Phoenix (PHX)? Or even Miami (MIA), which is only served seasonally 3x weekly, when it seems like there’s a lot of room for growth there?
I know Aer Lingus is largely targeting cities with decently sized Irish populations, but I’m not sure that’s necessarily a great route planning strategy nowadays.
The choices are all the more puzzling when you consider that Aer Lingus doesn’t really have room to grow at the moment. Not only is Dublin Airport facing passenger caps, but Aer Lingus management and pilots are currently in a dispute, and as a result, the airline is deferring Airbus A321XLR deliveries.
Bottom line
As of October 2024, Aer Lingus is launching a new 3x weekly flight between Dublin and Las Vegas. It’s certainly cool to see more transatlantic service to Las Vegas, though I still find this to be a strange choice. It seems like Aer Lingus is in a bit of a rut when it comes to route planning, given that the carrier appears to be canceling its new Minneapolis flight right out of the gate.
What do you make of Aer Lingus launching Dublin to Las Vegas flights?
I'm thinking a route to Phoenix would make more sense than Las Vegas or Denver...it is a hub for their partner American Airlines.
Especially due to how well the new Air France flight is doing, as it has already been upgraded to abyear long route before the first flight.
The article mentions the disagreement about the XLR but cant connect the dots regarding the relaunched DUB-MSP route? It was "launched" in 2020.
Aer Lingus arent in OneWorld. The TATL joint venture is mostly OW carriers but isnt solely a OW agreement.
Finally we get a nonstop flight from Las Vegas to Dublin! So happy we have a lot of Irish living here!
One major benefit of flying EI (or competitors) from Dublin is the lack of grief at customs and immigration for non-US citizens. Landing at JFK on a 'domestic' flight a few years ago was superb; by contrast, when I had to fly Porter from YTZ to EWR (my flight from YYZ was cancelled), I had to spend more time in the immigration line than on the flight!
The upshot is that EI has a...
One major benefit of flying EI (or competitors) from Dublin is the lack of grief at customs and immigration for non-US citizens. Landing at JFK on a 'domestic' flight a few years ago was superb; by contrast, when I had to fly Porter from YTZ to EWR (my flight from YYZ was cancelled), I had to spend more time in the immigration line than on the flight!
The upshot is that EI has a sustainable competitive advantage using DUB as a hub for flights to anywhere in the USA. I don't know how many people appreciate the time saving and I would only fly to the USA nowadays via DUB.
For US citizens with Global Entry, pre clearance at DUB is a negative.
Have to go to the gate earlier than I would have otherwise. No good lounge on the other side.
No, pre-clear is huge since you arrive as a domestic flight. You don't even have to think or worry about any border control or customs problems or delays upon arrival.
And for the last few years there has been a lounge at DUB after pre-clear - 51st and Green - which is decent.
So yes, arrive early, breeze through pre-clear and than wait in the lounge. Westbound works great but no similar benefit eastbound.
Are you aware that dublin to vegas and the return leg, is the largest unserved route between europe and the US on both legs. Google james pearson dublin to vegas for the stats...
Agree. Ben's analysis on US hubs rather misses the point. Las Vegas is a destination a lot of people like to visit. This service will attract most of the Irish traffic on that route, and I suspect a fair few UK connections from outside London/Manchester.
Yup, this is all true. Anecdotally, I can say that there's a lot of leisure demand from Ireland to not just Vegas specifically, but also for the national parks/monuments in the western US. Walk through Dublin and you'll see travel agents marketing vacation packages for these types of trips.
The DUB MSP route was supposed to be operated 4x a week with the A330 through the end of the S24 timetable. Then, in October it was supposed to start running with the A321XLR. The delivery was delayed and then the pilot pay dispute caused IAG to defer assignment of the aircraft to EI. It [the A321XLR] will go to IB first. I wouldn’t count MSP out of the timetable for S25 yet but it...
The DUB MSP route was supposed to be operated 4x a week with the A330 through the end of the S24 timetable. Then, in October it was supposed to start running with the A321XLR. The delivery was delayed and then the pilot pay dispute caused IAG to defer assignment of the aircraft to EI. It [the A321XLR] will go to IB first. I wouldn’t count MSP out of the timetable for S25 yet but it will depend on taking delivery of the A321s. Clearly, EI have decided they won’t be sending an A330 to MSP in 2025 though with this LAS announcement. I see LAS going the same way as DXB for them. As for MSP, there is a lot of award inventory on this route right now if you are looking for EI awards. It’s not the most aspirational business class but it does the trick and if you can get a seat for 50k it’s a good deal.
Does anyone know if the route will be year round or seasonal. They're advertising it as winter sun
When the two year incentive from LAS runs out, so will this route.
Wrong, again. US Airports aren't allowed to subsidize routes as it would be against Federal grant stipulations. LAS Airport is on record saying it's off limits, and would cause significant industry v airport infighting if even discussed.
Outside industries can, like the casinos, but that has only been attempted and failed in those random rural locations. LAS casinos don't need to bother, and would only cause backlash from the other airlines.
Hartford Business Journal, 19 February 2018
Aer Lingus taps $4.5M state subsidy after direct flights miss revenue target
https://www.hartfordbusiness.com/article/aer-lingus-taps-45m-state-subsidy-after-direct-flights-miss-revenue-target
https://archive.is/ChVKt
The Irish Times, 14 September 2018
Aer Lingus to get over €11m for renewing Connecticut service
Irish airline will receive cash over four years and fly the route in fifth and sixth year with no subsidy
https://www.irishtimes.com/business/transport-and-tourism/aer-lingus-to-get-over-11m-for-renewing-connecticut-service-1.3628618
https://archive.is/QUXnh
Hartford Business Journal, 19 February 2018
Aer Lingus taps $4.5M state subsidy after direct flights miss revenue target
https://www.hartfordbusiness.com/article/aer-lingus-taps-45m-state-subsidy-after-direct-flights-miss-revenue-target
https://archive.is/ChVKt
The Irish Times, 14 September 2018
Aer Lingus to get over €11m for renewing Connecticut service
Irish airline will receive cash over four years and fly the route in fifth and sixth year with no subsidy
https://www.irishtimes.com/business/transport-and-tourism/aer-lingus-to-get-over-11m-for-renewing-connecticut-service-1.3628618
https://archive.is/QUXnh
"US Airports aren't allowed to subsidize routes as it would be against Federal grant stipulations. LAS Airport is on record saying it's off limits"
"Outside industries can, like the casinos, but that has only been attempted and failed in those random rural locations."
None of that is accurate, so it's odd that you're stating it so assertively.
Airports an airport authorities can offer incentives for destinations and frequencies. What they can't do, is offer it...
"US Airports aren't allowed to subsidize routes as it would be against Federal grant stipulations. LAS Airport is on record saying it's off limits"
"Outside industries can, like the casinos, but that has only been attempted and failed in those random rural locations."
None of that is accurate, so it's odd that you're stating it so assertively.
Airports an airport authorities can offer incentives for destinations and frequencies. What they can't do, is offer it to individual airlines/operators/entities without an open bid application.
LAS very much does so, as does every significant gateway (including JFK, LAX, SFO, etc), so I'm not sure where this "on record" claim comes from.
Also, "outside industry" directly subsidize airlines and routes all the time. Raleigh's London flight was for years called "the Glaxo Shuttle" for that very reason.
Dont underestimate the dominance of Visiting Friends and Relatives traffic to developed countries with diaspora representing 15-20% of the population eg. Ireland and NZ
I'd be interested to see which direction has the most hungover passengers.
Stereotypes are just so funny, aren't they?!?
Surely a Texas city, or at least a mid size city like Raleigh or Nashville is on the cards at some point. Aer Lingus has little to lose, and already benefits from the advantage of US pre clearance.
That's a really good point, which is also a benefit for "behind point", e.g. European, passenger connections. And BA will help service/complement the connection on the days EI doesn't...
What happened to the rumored Nashville or RDU flight? thought those 2 were finalists and they were reviewing gov't packages.
Orlando and Vegas are the two cities in the top 10 US cities with most foreign visitors that aren’t airline hubs (which would likely having good foreign connectivity). Now a lot of those foreign tourists could not be coming from Europe but given the limited number of flights maybe they’re hoping to catch some connecting traffic?
Las Vegas has consistently been one of the top US metros unserved from Dublin, second only to I believe Houston. A lot of Vegas traffic is going through London and other US hubs, and there are already ample connecting opportunities, as you mention this has been rumoured from EI for a long time it is not very surprising, Vegas is a big draw for Irish people, makes more sense than MSP.
Great option for 55k Biz awards via Alaska, instead of the 70k flights via SFO/LAX! I’ll take that win & walk away happy
You said MIAMI twice