Business and tourism across the region received a boost today as Aer Lingus Regional extended its Dublin service to three flights a day from Bristol Airport.
Operated by Aer Arann under a franchise agreement between the Irish airlines, the service operates six days a week with two flights on Saturdays. The new morning, afternoon and evening flight times are seen as better for business customers while also boosting leisure and tourist travel between the West Country and Ireland.
The flights connect with Aer Lingus services from Dublin to New York, Boston, Chicago and Orlando, offering an alternative for Bristol Airport users to flying to Brussels or Amsterdam to connect with US-bound flights. Dublin Airport has US Customs and Immigrations clearance facilities meaning Aer Lingus passengers arrive in the US as domestic passengers. US airline Continental axed its Bristol-New York direct flights last November.
Aer Arann chief executive Paul Schütz said: “The launch of this service demonstrates the ongoing success of our franchise agreement with Aer Lingus and we look forward to welcoming both business and leisure passengers onboard our flights to Dublin now and in the future”.
Aer Lingus chief commercial officer Stephen Kavanagh added: “The expansion of the Aer Lingus Regional network with new services between Bristol and Dublin will enable us to serve key UK regional destinations while providing connectivity with our transatlantic schedule.”
Shaun Browne, Bristol Airport aviation director, said: “This new service brings improved flexibility for passengers traveling to the Irish capital, making a day’s business more practical as well as opening up onward connections to the US.”
Aer Lingus Regional also operates between Bristol and Shannon and Cork.
Bristol Airport was one of only two of UK airports to increase passenger numbers last year despite disruption from snow, strikes and volcanoes.
Passenger volumes rose 1.8% compared to 2009, with 5.7million passengers using the airport over the course of the year.
