Ireland’s Emerald Airlines commences flight operations

Emerald Airlines (Ireland) (EAI, Dublin Int’l) has begun flight operations following the launch of its inaugural service on the state-subsidised Public Service Obligation (PSO) route between Dublin Int’l and Donegal using Aer Lingus’s flight numbers and brand with 72-seater ATR72-600s.

The Irish startup holds the franchise for the Aer Lingus Regional network.

The route provides an essential link between Ireland’s northwest and the capital in the absence of a motorway or rail network in the region. Emerald Airlines will operate four flights daily on the route, with convenient connecting times on the Aer Lingus network from Dublin, and flight timings aimed at enabling same-day return trips to Dublin, the airline said in a statement. The service is also aimed at re-establishing vital tourism connections to Donegal on the wider Aer Lingus network. Emerald Airlines won the PSO tender for three years with a one-year extension. At this stage, it is the carrier’s only PSO obligation.

Further route announcements will be made in the coming weeks. Emerald Airlines plans to operate 360 flights per week across 12 routes.

Speaking at a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the occasion on February 26, Emerald Airlines’ founder and chief executive officer, Conor McCarthy, described it as “a huge milestone in our journey to become Ireland’s largest regional airline”.

Emerald has also established an airline company in Northern Ireland – Emerald Airlines (United Kingdom) (Belfast City)- and has applied to the UK Civil Aviation Authority for a UK Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) and Operating Licence (OL).

It intends to operate high-frequency routes from Belfast City to Birmingham Int’l, Edinburgh, Exeter, Glasgow Int’l, Leeds/Bradford, and Manchester Int’l. These new routes form part of a long-term deal reached between Emerald Airlines and Belfast City Airport to establish a new home-based carrier at the city-centre airport with ambitious growth plans and further new routes to be announced throughout 2022.