Aer Lingus Resumes Nonstop Flights from Dublin to Minneapolis-St. Paul
Aer Lingus has reinstated its direct service between Dublin and Minneapolis-St. Paul, marking a full recovery of its pre-pandemic North American network. The airline, which had paused the route in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 disruptions, is now offering four weekly roundtrips utilizing the Airbus A330 aircraft.
The Minneapolis-St. Paul route originally launched in July 2019, briefly operated before the global travel halt. This reinitiation is expected to meet the strong pent-up demand for direct connections between Ireland and the Midwestern United States. Minneapolis-St. Paul serves as a significant commercial and cultural nexus with robust connections to the biomedical and healthcare industries, which are areas of shared economic interest with Ireland.
The Twin Cities are also known for their vibrant arts, music, and culinary scenes, attracting both business and leisure travelers. Popular attractions in the area include the Mall of America and numerous lakes and parks, enhancing the travel appeal for visitors.
This route relaunch is part of Aer Lingus' broader strategy to enhance its Dublin hub, which serves as a key transit point for travelers heading to other European destinations. Currently, nearly half of the passengers booked on flights from Minneapolis-St. Paul to Dublin are connecting to other cities such as London, Paris, and Berlin.
Aer Lingus' Chief Strategy and Planning Officer, Reid Moody, highlighted the strategic importance of the Minneapolis-St. Paul route in supporting the airline’s efforts to facilitate stronger business links and cultural exchange between Europe and North America.
In addition to the restored routes, Aer Lingus has upgraded its long-haul service offerings. This includes a new business class menu inspired by Irish cuisine and improvements to in-flight amenities such as enhanced Wi-Fi and an expanded entertainment library, aimed at improving the overall travel experience for passengers flying across the Atlantic.