Why Irish airline Aer Lingus chose Pittsburgh
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Pittsburgh will have Aer Lingus flights to Dublin later this spring. Photo: Kevin Carter/Getty Images
Pittsburgh and Ireland are close, but they are about to get a lot closer.
The big picture: Pittsburgh International Airport will get new direct flights to Dublin in a couple of months, and Aer Lingus is making a push to boost the connection.
Driving the news: Aer Lingus marketing director Lisa Melarkey and her team visited the U.S. last week to promote the airline's new routes.
- The team even marched in Pittsburgh's St. Patrick's Day parade.
What they're saying: Melarkey said Pittsburgh's strong Irish heritage, along with UPMC, PPG, and BNY having facilities in Ireland, should make the flight sustainable for years.
- "There's so many synergies between Pittsburgh and Dublin that when we think about the opportunity for tourism as well as the other industries, we can really amplify that in the coming years."
Context: Over 86,000 people in the Pittsburgh area report Irish ancestry, according to Census data.
- The only ancestral groups with more people in the area are German and Italian.
Zoom in: The new route starts May 25 and will operate four times a week on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.
- Fares start at $519 round-trip, according to Aer Lingus.
- The planes have 184 seats, 16 of which are lie-flat business class seats.
Pro tip: American travelers clear customs in Dublin before their flights leave for the States, which Melarkey said is beneficial to Pittsburghers coming home because they don't have to wait in customs after long flights.
Between the lines: PIT officials say the flights will generate an estimated $23 million in economic impact for the region.
- The first two years of operation are being subsidized by a $5.25 million state grant.
State of play: The Pitt Panthers will play in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic in 2027 in Dublin, the team's first international game since playing there in 1989.
- Melarkey said Aer Lingus was encouraged by how many Steelers fans traveled to Ireland last year for a game against the Vikings, which factored into their decision to expand service to Pittsburgh.
What's next: Aer Lingus will increase marketing to Irish and Europeans about Pittsburgh as a travel destination, which is still a bit of an uncovered gem, said Melarkey.
- She said the city's walkability, architecture and history should be appealing to visitors from across the pond.