New Aer Lingus flight to 'City of Bridges' launched

Aer Lingus has launched its new service between Dublin Airport and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with a new connecting flight in Liverpool. The route, operating four times a week, builds on the airline’s partnership with the Pittsburgh Steelers, one of the best-known franchises in the NFL. The addition of Pittsburgh increases Aer Lingus’ network between Ireland and North America to 24 routes, strengthening connections between North America, Ireland, the UK and Europe. UK passengers travelling to Pittsburgh can connect through Dublin from 12 airports: Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Leeds Bradford, Newcastle, Southampton, Liverpool John Lennon, Isle of Man, Exeter and London Heathrow.

Reid Moody, chief strategy and planning officer at Aer Lingus, said: “Our new service to Pittsburgh brings Aer Lingus’ North American network to 24 routes from Ireland. This route strengthens our Dublin Hub and provides seamless connections between North America, Ireland, the UK and Europe, while supporting tourism, business and cultural links between Ireland and Pennsylvania. “Building on our partnership with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and with Pitt Panthers playing in the 2027 Aer Lingus College Football Classic, this service further builds on our ties to the region and our long-standing connection with Pittsburgh.” Passengers connecting via Dublin can also use the airport’s U.S. preclearance facility, allowing travellers to complete immigration and customs procedures before departure and arrive in the United States as domestic passengers. To mark the launch, Aer Lingus illuminated Pittsburgh’s Three Sisters Bridges on the Allegheny River in green, white and orange. The airline said the display, described as a “Bridge to Ireland”, reflected the new direct connection and onward links to Europe.

Known as the “City of Bridges”, Pittsburgh has more than 446 bridges and is home to attractions including the Andy Warhol Museum, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, and the Senator John Heinz History Center. The city’s skyline has also featured in the medical drama The Pitt. The Dublin–Pittsburgh service will operate using an Airbus A321neo LR aircraft, with onward connections available through Dublin to destinations including Manchester, London, Paris, Rome, Geneva and Amsterdam. Pittsburgh International Airport CEO Christina Cassotis added: “The Pittsburgh region’s connections to Ireland run deep – both in today’s strong business market and in ancestral ties.

"This is a route that community leaders have been seeking and the strong support we have received from the region since the flight’s announcement show its importance. "We are thrilled to have a strong partner in Aer Lingus that will serve Pittsburgh’s growing market to Ireland and beyond, and we look forward to welcoming even more European travelers to Pittsburgh.”