Aer Lingus Launches Indianapolis Route, Expanding Dublin’s US Network to 22 Airports

Aer Lingus is set to introduce a brand-new direct route between Dublin and Indianapolis starting May 3, 2024. This marks the first-ever flights between the two cities, making Dublin Indianapolis' only long-haul destination since Delta discontinued its Paris service in 2020. The route will be serviced by the Airbus A321LR, with the possibility of upgrading to the Airbus A321XLR, offering a four-times-weekly service timed to capture peak summer demand.

The route spans 3,230 nautical miles (5,982 km) and is scheduled to depart Dublin at 14:50, arriving in Indianapolis at 18:25. The return flight will leave Indianapolis at 19:55, landing in Dublin the next morning at 08:50. Aer Lingus will likely target a mix of point-to-point travelers and connecting passengers, benefiting from Dublin’s US preclearance, allowing them to arrive in Indianapolis as domestic travelers.

With approximately 17,000 passengers flying between Dublin and Indianapolis annually, this route is expected to grow the local market by 30-50%. Aer Lingus will also aim to capture a share of the connecting market from other European cities, including London, Rome, and Paris. Indianapolis' local market of 260,000 passengers flying between the city and Europe annually offers a strong foundation for this new service.

Aer Lingus' Indianapolis route is part of a broader expansion of its US network, which will soon include new routes to Las Vegas, Nashville, and Detroit. With these additions, Dublin Airport will serve a record 22 US destinations, positioning it as a major European gateway to the US, just behind London Heathrow and Frankfurt.