Aer Lingus to Launch A321XLR Service to Indianapolis and Nashville in 2025
Aer Lingus is expanding its U.S. network with a new route from Dublin to Indianapolis, beginning May 3, 2025. This will be the second U.S. destination served by the airline’s new Airbus A321XLR, a long-range narrowbody aircraft ideal for connecting secondary cities. The service will operate four times per week, marking the only nonstop link between Indiana and Europe, with onward connections to major cities like Paris, London, and Frankfurt.
The A321neo(XLR) aircraft, configured with 184 seats, will feature 168 economy class seats and 16 business class seats, providing a comfortable travel experience for passengers.
Indiana Governor Eric J. Holcomb highlighted the significance of this route for business and leisure travelers, underscoring its alignment with Indiana’s Next Level Agenda, which aims to grow international business ties. Indiana is home to over 1,090 foreign-owned businesses, including 52 from Ireland. The new route also aligns with recent investments from Indianapolis-based Eli Lilly, which is injecting $1.8 billion into its Irish facilities.
Indianapolis International Airport (IND) has been without nonstop European service since Delta Air Lines ended its Paris route in 2020. An analysis by IND estimates 545 passengers travel daily from the area to Europe, and this new service could contribute more than $50 million annually to Indiana’s economy.
This route complements Aer Lingus’ newly announced A321XLR service to Nashville, which starts on April 12. The flight from Dublin to Nashville or Indianapolis will take about 9 hours, while the return flight to Dublin will take about 8 hours. These near year-round routes will experience a brief suspension in January and February.
Aer Lingus’ sister airline Iberia, the launch customer for the A321XLR, will begin transatlantic service between Madrid and Boston in mid-November, marking a broader rollout of the aircraft model across International Airlines Group’s network.
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