Aer Lingus Regional has launched a new route to Newcastle Airport and is looking to fly up to 65,000 passengers in the first year.
The route, operated by Aer Arann, will operate two daily return flights to Newcastle from Dublin Airport beginning October 24. Aer Lingus Regional has scheduled 26 flights between Dublin and Newcastle per week at prime times, offering a convenient day return for travellers.
The addition of the Newcastle route is part of the ‘new beginning’ strategy, which was announced by Aer Arann to return the company to profitability in 2014. The measures also included the launch of two other new routes to Manchester and Birmingham.
‘We are delighted to announce the launch of our newest route to Newcastle,’ said Aer Arann’s chief commercial officer, Simon Fagan, adding: ‘This new route connects Aer Lingus Regional passengers with one of the UK’s most vibrant cities and means that the airline is now serving nine major UK cities from Ireland. This new route will add up to 65,000 passengers to our network next year.
‘The Newcastle-Dublin route will facilitate connections to Aer Lingus mainline services to the US for passengers in the North East of England. Aer Lingus Regional aims to connect 3,500 passengers through Dublin in the first 12 months,’ Fagan said, adding: ‘Aer Lingus Regional is committed to providing our customers with easy, convenient and great value in regional connections. We look forward to welcoming our passengers on board this new route to Newcastle.’
Chris Sanders, aviation development director at Newcastle International Airport, said: ‘We’re delighted that Aer Lingus Regional will be operating new services to Dublin this year. This announcement increases the schedule choice for passengers flying from Newcastle on this important route.’
He added: ‘It presents a wide range of connection facilities for travellers which I’m sure will be welcomed by North East holidaymakers and business travellers alike.’
Aer Arann operates 550 flights per week across 25 routes in Ireland, the UK and France. Aer Lingus Regional, which registered a 32 percent rise in passenger numbers in the past 12 months, is looking to double passenger numbers to over two million over the next five years.
