Aer Lingus to launch UK-US flights in early 3Q21

Aer Lingus (United Kingdom) (Belfast City) has filed schedules indicating that it plans to begin commercial transatlantic services on July 29, 2021, initially connecting Manchester Int’l with New York JFK and Orlando Int’l. Services will be operated on a wet-lease basis under the EI code of Aer Lingus (EI, Dublin Int’l) and using the parent company’s branding. As such, the British subsidiary will only be a capacity provider to comply with the US-UK bilateral air services agreement. Flights to New York JFK will be operated daily using A321-200NX(LR) narrowbodies, while flights to Florida will operate 5x weekly with A330-300s. The carrier plans to add a route to Bridgetown, also operated with A330-300s, starting on October 20, 2021. A route to Boston is planned for 2022. Aer Lingus (United Kingdom) has yet to complete its certification in the UK. However, it has already been tentatively okayed by the US Department of Transportation (DOT) to start marketing flights. “We are deferring action on the requests of Aer Lingus (U.K.) Limited for exemption/permit authority and statements of authorization until such time that the carrier has been granted its homeland licenses… Based on the specific record in this case, it is consistent with the public interest to grant the request of the Joint Applicants to engage in their proposed advance marketing and sales activities, in the United Kingdom only,” the DOT said in its decision issued on March 5, 2021. The start-up indicated that it would aim to launch with two A321-200NX(LR)s and two A330-300s.