Dublin to rival Heathrow as transatlantic hub
Aer Lingus is aiming to turn Dublin into a rival transatlantic hub to Heathrow, claiming a 17.2% rise in passenger numbers on long-haul routes last month compared with June 2012.
The Irish airline carried 100,000 UK passengers to the US via Dublin last year. In the first half of this year it saw a 36% increase in the number of UK passengers using Dublin to travel to North America, it said.
It claims passengers from the UK, especially those from the north of England and Scotland with limited long-haul flights from their local airports, are choosing to fly to Dublin where they can connect with international services to avoid paying the UK’s air passenger duty on the international leg of the flight.
To satisfy growing demand, Aer Lingus will launch a new five-flights-a-week service from Dublin to San Francisco next March and it will also have a new Dublin to Toronto service next summer, increasing its transatlantic capacity by almost 25%.
Chief executive Christoph Mueller told the FT the airline, which is the subject of a hostile takeover bid by rival Ryanair, was looking to buy more slots at Heathrow to launch feeder flights for its long-haul services from Dublin.
It will find out in the autumn whether Ryanair will be forced by the UK Competition Commission to sell its 30% stake in the Aer Lingus.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
Euromonitor International unveils world’s top 100 city destinations for 2025