Three new routes from Aer Lingus

Aer Lingus is to add three new services to its network of routes at Belfast International Airport.

From this winter, the Irish national carrier will start flying to the popular city destinations of Munich and Milan as well as the sun-drenched island of Lanzarote.

As part of the revised schedule, the frequency of flights to Malaga and Rome has also been increased.

Fuel surcharge increased on Aer Lingus flights

Aer Lingus has been forced to increase the fuel surcharge on its long haul flights to the US as the cost of oil heads upwards.

The Irish flag carrier has said the increases will be effective from May 14 and that no fuel surcharge will be applied to any of the 82 short haul routes it operates.

Enda Corneille, corporate affairs director at Aer Lingus, said: "The price of oil has risen to a record high in recent weeks. Today's increases in our surcharges reflect the continuing effect the high price of oil is having on our long haul operation. Aer Lingus will keep the level of the surcharges under constant review and make adjustments where appropriate."

Aer Lingus raises baggage charges

Aer Lingus has confirmed that the fee for checking in bags on its short-haul flights will rise by up to 50 per cent.

The Irish national carrier announced that from Thursday (May 8) the cost of checking in bags at airports will rise from €12 to €18 (£14).

Passengers who check in their bags online will enjoy a proportionally lower increase of €9 to €12 (£9.50).

Aer Lingus confirms new Airbus aircraft orders

Irish carrier Aer Lingus has confirmed its order of 12 new Airbus aircraft, making it the airline's biggest ever acquisition of long-haul aircraft.

Aer Lingus announced that it had received shareholder approval to buy six A350-900s, as well as six additional A330-300s.

Aer Lingus announces codeshare agreement

Ireland-based carrier Aer Lingus has announced a codeshare agreement with United Airlines.

The airlines' agreement will enable them to book on each other's flights from November 1 this year. It will cover Aer Lingus' seven US gateways and provide passengers with more than 200 additional destinations in the States.

In turn, it will allow US passengers to have greater choice in terms of flights to destinations in Ireland, the UK and Europe.

Aer Lingus begins flights to Paris

Aer Lingus has begun direct flights from Belfast International to Paris (Charles de Gaulle), with fares starting from £25.

This is in addition to its direct services to Amsterdam, Barcelona, Budapest, Faro, Malaga, Nice and Rome.

One-way fares include taxes and cha

rges, and a supplementary charge will apply for travel between Friday and Saturday.

There is limited or no availability during holiday and peak travel periods, and flights are subject to availability.

Aer Lingus’ winter transatlantic schedule

The Open Skies agreement between Europe and the US will enable Aer Lingus to expand its offering from Ireland across the Atlantic later this year.

In announcing its winter service, the airline announced that from the end of October it would operate two flights a day from Dublin to New York, daily flights to Boston, four flights a week from Dublin to Washington and San Francisco and three flights a week to Los Angeles and Orlando.

Dublin to Bulgaria link launched by Aer Lingus

Aer Lingus will start a new service from Dublin to Bourgas in Bulgaria, with the flight becoming the airline's first scheduled service to the Eastern European destination.

Starting on June 11, and operating until October 4, Aer Lingus will offer two flights a week to Bourgas Airport which is close to the major tourist resorts on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast.

Aer Lingus launches new Belfast routes

Aer Lingus has launched four new routes to destinations across Europe from Belfast airport, with another of its planes also set to be based at the hub.

Bringing its total number of services offered from the airport to eight, the airline has introduced flights to Malaga, Faro, Rome and Budapest.

The Rome and Malaga services offer departures on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, while the routes to Faro and Budapest operate on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

Aer Lingus starts Belfast to Paris link

A new service between Belfast and Paris operated by Aer Lingus will begin on March 30.

The Irish carrier has said it will offer a daily service to the French capital with one-way tickets starting from £25, although to fit the Paris connection into its route map Aer Lingus will now only offer one daily flight to Amsterdam from Belfast.

Dermot Mannion, Aer Lingus CEO, said: "Our market research has shown strong demand for Paris, Charles de Gaulle while Northern Ireland is increasingly popular with French visitors. We are delighted to be able to capitalise on this demand by launching Aer Lingus' low-cost, superior service offering on this route."

Aer Lingus criticised for Irish language ban

Dublin-based flag carrier Aer Lingus has been criticised by the Irish prime minister for not making on board announcements in its native tongue on services from Belfast Airport.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern was asked for his thoughts during a debate on the subject in parliament, the BBC website reports, after it was revealed that staff had been banned from using Irish during in-flight announcements.

Bertie Ahern said Aer Lingus was still the Irish national airline and "a few sentences (in Irish) wouldn't hurt anyone."

Link-up plans between Aer Lingus and JetBlue

Aer Lingus has said its agreement with US-based airline JetBlue, set to be operative in the spring, will enable passengers to book a single reservation between Ireland and 40 US destinations.

The link-up will mean Aer Lingus passengers arriving at New York's JFK airport will, after security clearance, be able to connect to domestic JetBlue flights after checking in their bags at an Aer Lingus' transfer desk in the arrivals hall.

Customers will then be able to travel to JetBlue's Terminal 6, via an airtrain, for their onward US connection to destinations including Seattle, Denver, Fort Lauderdale and Las Vegas.

Aer Lingus ends Shannon to Heathrow service

Aer Lingus has brought its Shannon to Heathrow service to an end, replacing the route with daily flights from Belfast to the London destination.

The three-times daily service represents part of a £100 million investment in the airline's operations from the Belfast hub, with nine new routes set to be launched in all.

While Aer Lingus's decision to end its Shannon operation had been met with consternation by business leaders in the Irish city, Eddie Lynch, head of consumer affairs at the Consumer Council, told The Belfast Telegraph that the new service would help meet customer demand.

Aer Lingus starts flights from Belfast

The first Aer Lingus flights from Belfast International Airport will take off today (Monday, December 10).

Back in August the Irish flag-carrier said it would establish a new base in Belfast, offering flights to several European destinations.

Flights to Amsterdam, Barcelona and Geneva begin today, with further services to London Heathrow, Rome, Budapest, Malaga, Faro and Nice beginning early next year.

Aer Lingus to drop Dubai but announces two new routes

Aer Lingus has announced two new routes to begin next summer, from Dublin to Ibiza and from Cork to Jersey.

It is also upping the frequency of its flights from Dublin, Cork and Belfast, but will scrap its flights between the Irish capital and Dubai.

The airline is adding three new aircraft to its short-haul fleet for 2008, allowing for the expansion. New Belfast to Nice flights will be introduced, together with the Ibiza and Jersey routes. Introductory fares begin at €45/£31 (Dublin to Cork) and €19/£13 (Cork to Jersey), one-way, excluding taxes and charges.

Aer Lingus raises fuel surcharge

Aer Lingus has said it will increase its long-haul fuel surcharge from November 1 because of the rising price of oil.

The changes mean that the surcharge on flights from Ireland to New York, Boston and Washington will increase to €50/£35 per sector (i.e., per leg).

On flights to Chicago, Orlando and Dubai the charge will rise to €55/£40, and on flights to Los Angeles and San Francisco it will increase to €65/£45.

The airline's commercial director, Enda Corneille, commented: "We said last May that we would keep our surcharge under review to reflect changes in the price of fuel, and today's decision to increase the charge is consistent with that strategy.

Aer Lingus and BA sign code share on Heathrow flights

Irish airline Aer Lingus has signed a code sharing agreement with British Airways regarding its new Belfast to London Heathrow service.

This means that passengers flying with Aer Lingus to Heathrow and then connecting to an onward BA flight will be able to check their bags through to their final destination.

Aer Lingus announced back in August that it was going to end its Shannon to Heathrow flights, and use the Heathrow take-off and landing slots for a new Belfast route (see related Cheapflights story). The move caused an outcry among locals who believe that business in the area will be damaged.

Aer Lingus Shannon pullout is bad timing for CityJet

CityJet could provide a Shannon to London City Airport service, but it is unlikely to be in place by the time Aer Lingus discontinues its own Shannon to Heathrow flights.

The airline's chief executive, Geoff White, said that it is still in productive talks with Shannon Airport but that it would take "something extraordinary" for a new link to be in place as soon as the Irish national carrier pulls out.

"We're still actively talking to Shannon Airport about it and there has been some progress," he said.

Aer Lingus strike disruption imminent

Passengers who have Aer Lingus bookings for Tuesday, August 21 and Wednesday, August 22 are being warned that a strike is likely to disrupt flights.

Pilots belonging to The IMPACT trade union are to stage a 48-hour walk-out beginning at 12.01am on Tuesday morning, with further industrial action also possible.

Aer Lingus to establish base at Belfast Airport

Aer Lingus is to begin flights to eight destinations, including Heathrow, and other major European cities from Belfast International Airport.

The Irish flag-carrier will base three A320 aircraft at the Northern Ireland hub and offer connections to Heathrow, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Geneva, Rome, Budapest, Malaga and Faro.

Flights to Amsterdam (14 per week), Barcelona (5 per week) and Geneva (2 per week) will begin on December 10.

Aer Lingus plans to end Shannon-Heathrow connection

Irish national airline Aer Lingus is set to end its Shannon to Heathrow flights, with the Heathrow slots to be used for a new connection to Belfast.

The carrier currently offers four daily flights between the west Ireland airport and London during the summer months, dropping to three daily flights in the winter.

An official announcement regarding the route's closure is expected to be made today (August 7) by Aer Lingus chief executive Dermot Mannion, who is also likely to announce several other new routes from Belfast.

Aer Lingus Dublin to Washington flight takes off

Aer Lingus launched its new route from Dublin to Washington DC over the weekend, making it the first European airline to launch a new service under the Open Skies agreement, which was brokered earlier this year.

The four-times weekly (on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays) service leaves the Irish capital at 2.30pm, arriving in the US at 5.10pm. On the way back, flights leave Washington at 7.30pm and touch down in Ireland at 7.20am the next day.

Ireland's transport minister, Noel Dempsey, hailed the new route as significant, saying: "It symbolises the liberalisation of transatlantic air services and the creation of a more dynamic and competitive Aer Lingus under a new ownership structure."

Aer Lingus to fly Dublin to Gatwick

Irish national airline Aer Lingus is to begin flying scheduled services between Dublin and London Gatwick in the autumn.

The four-times daily connection, aimed at both business and leisure passengers, will begin at the end of October and will bring the number of new routes introduced by Aer Lingus in 2007 to 14.

Fares for the route will begin at just €1 one-way, excluding taxes (which come to around £40 return).

Aer Lingus could be heading to Belfast International

Aer Lingus may be set to open a UK base at Belfast International Airport as the Irish carrier looks to expand its operations.

The BBC reports that up to 15 new destinations could be offered, including the return of a link to Heathrow, and that up to a thousand jobs could be created at the airport.

Local MP, Jeffrey Donaldson, said he backed the airport's efforts to attract Aer Lingus, as he believed the two "could not be better suited" and that it would put Belfast International on the map.

New aircraft to be added to Aer Lingus fleet

Irish airline Aer Lingus has announced a major investment in its long haul fleet as it looks to offer passengers new destinations and travel options.

Aer Lingus has confirmed an order for six A330-300E and six A350 XWB Airbus aircraft, with deliveries to start in 2009 and has the option to purchase a further six A350 XWB aircraft for delivery by 2018.

Dermot Mannion, Aer Lingus' Chief Executive, said: "These aircraft are key to our growth ambitions which include new routes to the U.S. following the Open Skies agreement. The aircraft will complement our existing Airbus fleet and enhance our long haul network whilst offering a superior product to customers."

Winter service from Shannon announced by Aer Lingus

Aer Lingus has announced its winter flight schedule from Shannon Airport to the US, and also has an eye on new destinations in the future.

The airline’s representative said that from the end of October it will operate daily flights from Shannon to Boston, a daily service to New York and daily flights to Chicago via Dublin.

New routes added to Aer Lingus winter schedule

Aer Lingus has announced the launch of six new routes later this year, as well as increased frequency on a number of existing services.

The new flights will start at the end of October from Dublin to Helsinki, Bucharest, Agadir and Funchal, in addition to the recommencement of services from Dublin to Copenhagen and Cork to Munich.

Dermot Mannion, chief executive of Aer Lingus, said: "The introduction of these new routes reaffirms Aer Lingus' commitment to providing direct, low fares access for Irish customers to new destinations as well as providing real growth opportunities in inbound tourism from emerging markets."

Aer Lingus to introduce seating charge

Aer Lingus is looking to introduce a charge for pre-booking seats on flights.

The Irish flag-carrier has changed its business strategy and is adopting various budget airline tactics as it seeks to keep ticket prices down.

No-frills carriers such as Ryanair and easyJet already make money by offering passengers the chance to choose superior seats for their journey.

Potential Aer Lingus strike next week

Irish airline Aer Lingus has warned that travel next week could be disrupted because of a strike.

A dispute concerning a cost-cutting plan means that flights could be disrupted from next Wednesday. Aer Lingus operates flights across Europe and to the UK, including Heathrow, Manchester, Newcastle, Glasgow and Bristol.

It has said it will waive all change fees for passengers with flights booked on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday (February 28, March 1 and 2) in light of the possible industrial action. Customers can change their flights for free via the Aer Lingus website.

Aer Lingus cuts long-haul fuel surcharge

Aer Lingus, the Irish national airline, has cut its fuel surcharge by 25 per cent on all flights to the US and Middle East.

The reduction comes into effect on all tickets booked after midnight today (Monday, February 12) and represents a cut of €10/US$15 each way. The move comes as a result of falling oil prices.

Dermot Mannion, Aer Lingus Chief Executive, said: "This is good news for Aer Lingus customers.

Website link-up between Aer Lingus and JetBlue

An agreement has been reached between Aer Lingus and US low-cost operator JetBlue that will mean passengers heading to the States can easily book onward flights.

The link-up will allow customers of one airline to easily link through to the website of the other whilst booking tickets, although the alliance is not a traditional code-share, which would allow the seamless sale of tickets.

But Aer Lingus chief executive Dermot Mannion believes offering a link between the two airlines will bring real benefits.

Aer Lingus begins charging for checked-in bags

Irish national airline Aer Lingus has introduced charges for checked-in baggage on short-haul flights to the UK and the rest of Europe.

Effective from today (January 17), the fee will be €8 (£5.30) per piece of luggage, per flight. However, this will be reduced to €4 (£2.65) for those paying online before the day of departure.

As well as this, bags weighing more than 20 kilograms will incur an additional €8 (£5.30) per kilogram charge. The allowance for free carry-on baggage will remain at a maximum six kilograms.

Two new routes from Dublin

Aer Lingus has announced it will begin operating two new routes from Dublin Airport next year.

The airline said it will offer three flights a week to Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, from May with one-way tickets starting at €29 (£20) excluding fees and charges.

The second new route will be to Santiago de Compostela in northern Spain, which will start in March and operate twice a week, with one-way tickets, exclusive of fees and charges, costing €19 (£13).

Aer Lingus to resume Dublin to Boston connection

Irish airline Aer Lingus is planning on restarting its service between Dublin and Boston's Logan International Airport next spring.

From March 25, flights will take off five times weekly, on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, according to a spokesman from Logan Airport's operator, the Massachusetts Port Authority. In May the service will be expanded to once daily.

Aer Lingus, which is currently the subject of an aggressive takeover bid by low-cost rival Ryanair, also flies to Boston from Shannon. This route used to be plied by American Airlines, too, before the latter transferred its service to Chicago's O'Hare International Airport.

Greece link included in Aer Lingus route expansion

Irish airline Aer Lingus is to expand its European route network with new flights to Madrid, Prague, Milan and Athens next year.

From March, the carrier will fly from Cork to Manchester. During the course of summer 2007, new routes will begin from Cork to Madrid and Prague, Dublin to Newcastle and Milan-Malpensa, and Dublin to Athens. The Athens route will be the airline's first foray into the Greek market.

As well as these new services, the frequency of many flights will be increased. Dublin to Budapest, Geneva, Lisbon, Prague, Venice and Zurich services will operate daily and links to Barcelona, Madrid, Faro and other destinations will also be augmented.

Aer Lingus staff looks to increase stake in shares

The staff of Aer Lingus is looking to buy a bigger stake in the Irish airline in order to block the bid from rival carrier Ryanair.

According to the Irish Times, the Employee Share Ownership Trust (ESOT), which holds shares for Aer Lingus employees, is looking at ways in which it can increase its holding in order to halt a possible Ryanair takeover.

One possible method would be to put up the existing shares as security for a loan, after which a collaboration with another major shareholder would decrease Ryanair's chance of acquiring the Irish national carrier.

Aer Lingus to float

Aer Lingus is set to enter a new phase of development with a flotation.

The Irish national carrier is looking to raise between £270 million and £340 million in its initial public offering, The Guardian reports today. Around 60 per cent of the company will be sold, with the Irish government retaining a significant stake.

In recent years Aer Lingus has been repositioning itself as a low-cost airline to challenge the likes of Ryanair, Ireland's largest carrier.

Aer Lingus to charge for checking-in bags

Aer Lingus is to begin charging passengers a fee to check-in luggage on its short-haul routes.

The airline will charge €4 for each bag if checked-in at the same time as a ticket is purchased online, a charge of €8 will apply to check-in baggage at the airport.

Strike to affect Aer Lingus passengers

A strike by airline staff will affect passengers travelling with Aer Lingus through Dublin and Shannon Airports next Thursday (July 13).

Passengers with flights departing after 10.30am should be aware that they will probably be affected by the industrial action, during which staff will leave their jobs to join a protest meeting, The Sunday Business Post reports.

Aer Lingus begins Birmingham to Cork service

Aer Lingus inaugurated a thrice-weekly service between Birmingham International Airport (BIA) and Cork in southern Ireland yesterday (June 27).

Passengers checking in for the first flights were given Irish-themed food and drink and were provided with entertainment from the Irish Figure Dancing World Champion, Orla Brennan.

The service adds to the existing thrice-daily connection between BIA and the Irish capital Dublin and tickets cost from £21.00 one-way, including taxes and charges.

Aer Lingus unveils European winter connections

Irish airline Aer Lingus has unveiled five new winter routes from Cork and Dublin to destinations in Europe and the UK.

Starting in October, the new services will comprise flights from Dublin to Turin and Newcastle, as well as flights from Cork to Madrid, Lanzarote and Prague.

The expansion will also see summer services from Dublin to Poznan and Seville, and from Cork to Berlin, Birmingham, Faro and Tenerife operate all year round.

An extra Airbus A320 aircraft will be stationed at Cork to help with the added capacity.

The airline's chief executive, Dermot Mannion, said the launch of the new routes "reaffirms Aer Lingus' commitment to providing direct, low-fares access for Irish customers to new destinations".

Aer Lingus to leave oneworld alliance

Irish airline Aer Lingus is to leave the oneworld travel alliance because its strategy has "changed fundamentally" and is no longer compatible with oneworld.

The key target of the alliance, which offers perks such as frequent flyer programmes and shared airport lounges, is the premium, international traveller.

However, due to increasing competition from low-cost airlines, Aer Lingus has repositioned itself as a no-frills carrier.

Aer Lingus signals intent with fleet expansion

Aer Lingus' decision to order two more long-haul aircraft has been hailed by the Irish government as a sign of its ambitious growth plans.

It is rumoured that Aer Lingus placed the order in anticipation of liberalisation of the transatlantic market.

Aer Lingus announces Dublin to Dubai

Low-cost airline Aer Lingus has announced it will launch a new route from Dublin to Dubai in March 2006.

The Irish budget airline expects to carry 70,000 passengers in the first year and will offer three flights a week to the desert city.

Aer Lingus is heralding the move as the first step in the expansion of its new long-haul network.

Aer Lingus fights back in Irish airline battle

Irish airline Aer Lingus has responded to the challenge laid down by low-cost airlines Ryanair and easyJet.

The airline has announced a new ticket promotion, with tickets for flights between Ireland and the UK on sale for just £1 each-way.

The offer is valid on all Monday-Thursday flights from the eight UK airports served by Aer Lingus to Dublin and Shannon in the Republic from now until December 31.

Aer Lingus flies from Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Jersey, Liverpool, London Heathrow and Manchester airports to Dublin and Shannon.

The Irish airline faces stiff competition from low-cost airlines including Ryanair and easyJet on UK-Ireland routes.