Dublin Aerospace boss sets up new Irish carrier

Emerald Airlines is hoping to secure a lucrative regional white-label flying contract with Aer Lingus (EI, Dublin Int’l) which is currently operated by Stobart Air (RE, Dublin Int’l) but which is due to expire at the end of 2022. Conor McCarthy heads the Irish start-up, a tycoon who founded local maintenance, repair and overhaul provider Dublin Aerospace in 2009 and who was non-executive chairman of Stobart Air between 2018 and late 2019. Contacted by the Irish Independent, McCarthy declined to comment on Emerald Airlines’ plans. As previously reported, several operators are said to be vying for the Aer Lingus Regional contract. Stobart Air currently operates domestically within Ireland and the United Kingdom, as well as between the two countries under a franchise agreement with Aer Lingus. Its fleet includes a single ATR42-600 and twelve ATR72-600s.