Aer Lingus Resumes Flights to Minneapolis After Pandemic Suspension
The Minneapolis flights will be followed by a new Dublin to Denver service in mid-May
Photo: Airbus A330-300. Courtesy Aer Lingus
Aer Lingus has resumed nonstop flights to Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP), which marks the airline’s full restoration of its transatlantic network since the pandemic started.
On April 29, the Irish flag carrier operated the first direct flight from Dublin Airport (DUB) to the Twin Cities since the route was temporarily suspended in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The service between both cities was originally launched in July 2019.
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Aer Lingus will use an Airbus A330-300 aircraft for the route, including Economy and Business Class cabins. The fares start at $349 one-way.
The resumption of this route marks the full restoration of the Irish airline’s North American network to pre-pandemic levels. Other U.S. destinations served with nonstop Aer Lingus flights from Dublin are Boston Logan (BOS), Chicago O’Hare (ORD), New York John F. Kennedy (JFK), Washington Dulles (IAD), and Miami International Airport (MIA).
Furthermore, Aer Lingus is set to expand its U.S. network further by launching a fourth weekly service to Denver International Airport (DEN) on May 17.
“Aer Lingus is delighted to welcome the return of Minneapolis-St. Paul to our North American route network,” said Reid Moody, Chief Strategy and Planning Officer at Aer Lingus. “There has been a noticeable demand from our passengers for the reinstatement of this route following the temporary pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic.”
The resumption of this route and the future expansion of its U.S. network is not just a response to the current situation but part of Aer Lingus’ long-term strategy to turn Dublin into a major hub connecting destinations in Europe and North America.
According to the airline, nearly half of its passengers who have flights booked from MSP to Dublin plan to catch a connecting flight onwards to destinations including London, Manchester, Edinburgh, Paris, Amsterdam, Rome, Barcelona, and Berlin, ensuring a strong and sustainable future for our operations.
Photo: Courtesy of Aer Lingus.
“We are dedicated to offering passengers seamless connections between North America and Ireland and onward from Ireland to the rest of Europe,” added Moody. “The re-introduction of this route marks the airline’s full restoration of our pre-pandemic North American network and serves as a testament to this commitment.
“Minneapolis-St Paul is a significant business destination within the U.S., and we look forward to once again facilitating corporate links and connectivity between Europe and North America through our Dublin Hub.”
The route will run four times weekly: every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. Departure from Dublin is scheduled at 2:30 PM local time, and arrival in Minneapolis is at 5:05 PM CDT. Return flights from Minneapolis will leave at 6:55 PM and arrive in Dublin at 8:35 AM the next day.
Aer Lingus will face competition on its MSP-DUB route when Delta Air Lines launches a 5x weekly service between the two cities on May 9.
