Aer Lingus and United Airlines are to launch services between Washington Dulles and Madrid, capitalising on the Open Skies agreement.

Daily flights will start in March 2010, with tickets on sale from April 2009.

It is anticipated that additional routes may be made available for sale during 2010 to start in summer 2011.

The carriers said they expect to equally share the commercial and operating benefits and risk, with Aer Lingus managing the operational aspects of the new partnership services and United Airlines taking responsibility for managing revenue generation.

The route structure will be operated and sold under both airlines’ codes.

Aer Lingus and United Airlines launched code share services between Ireland and the US in October 2008.

By Bev Fearis