Aer Lingus Cuts Dublin-Heathrow Flights Amid Weak Demand

Aer Lingus has announced plans to reduce the frequency of its flagship Dublin to London Heathrow route for the winter 2024/25 season, citing a sluggish recovery in demand post-COVID. While travel demand has rebounded across much of its network, the Dublin-Heathrow route has lagged behind, prompting the airline to reassess its capacity and fleet deployment.

The decision follows a comprehensive review by Aer Lingus, which was influenced by several factors, including the arrival of new Airbus A321XLR aircraft and operational constraints at Dublin Airport (DUB). The airport is currently limited to 32 million passengers per year due to planning laws, a restriction that Aer Lingus, Ryanair, and other carriers have been pushing to have reviewed.

Compounding the challenges for Aer Lingus, the airline has faced a year-long dispute with pilot unions, which impacted its financial performance and led to flight cancellations. The dispute was finally resolved in July 2024 with a 17.75% pay increase for pilots, but the financial strain remains a concern.

Starting in winter 2024/25, Aer Lingus will reduce its Dublin-Heathrow service by approximately two return flights per day, bringing the total down to nine or ten daily departures compared to 11 or 12 in the previous winter season. For summer 2025, the airline plans to operate 11 to 12 daily departures, down from the 13 to 14 flights it offered during summer 2024.

An Aer Lingus spokesperson commented on the decision, stating, “We are assessing the implications of the financial damage caused by the pilot industrial dispute within the context of the current competitive environment and the passenger cap at Dublin Airport. As part of this review, we are reducing our Dublin to London Heathrow operation due to the underperformance of these services post-COVID.”

Business travel on the Dublin-Heathrow route has only recovered to about 75% of pre-pandemic levels, which has been a significant factor in the airline’s decision. Despite the reduction in flights, Aer Lingus’ services to Heathrow from Cork, Shannon, and Knock airports will remain unchanged.

The two daily landing and take-off slots at Heathrow that Aer Lingus will no longer use for the Dublin route are expected to be utilized by British Airways, a fellow IAG partner airline.

Despite the reduction in flights, Aer Lingus is moving forward with its fleet expansion plans. The airline is set to receive six Airbus A321XLR narrowbody aircraft, with the first two arriving in November and December 2024, and the remaining four by September 2025. These aircraft are expected to enhance Aer Lingus’ transatlantic operations, potentially freeing up Airbus A330 capacity for other routes.

In 2024, Aer Lingus has faced increased competition on transatlantic routes from carriers like United, Delta, and JetBlue. In response, the airline has expanded its US destination list, adding new services to Austin, Las Vegas, and Denver. However, this increased competition has impacted the airline’s profitability, with profits for the first half of 2024 falling to €9 million ($9.63 million) from €31 million ($33.2 million) in the same period in 2023.

Aer Lingus’ adjustments to its Dublin-Heathrow service reflect broader industry challenges as airlines continue to navigate the post-pandemic landscape and competitive pressures.