Aer Lingus has outlined its Summer 2022 plans, with an emphasis on routes to Europe and North America being key to growth for the year ahead
The airline will offer 71 routes in total, serving 62 destinations in total. 16 of these will be transatlantic routes. Aer Lingus is building up capacity from what is being offered for Winter and Christmas. The planned schedule reflects the airline’s ambition to build to pre-pandemic levels of flying over time and anticipates continued momentum in customer demand.
It is also based on a customer survey conducted in September that showed that almost 2 in 3 (65%) adults in Ireland are planning to travel internationally in 2022, whether that’s to reconnect with family and friends, to have that important business meeting in person, or to simply enjoy a relaxing and refreshing break abroad.
North America
After 18 months of restrictions, direct flights are available to destinations such as New York, Chicago, Boston, LA, San Francisco, Toronto, Washington, Seattle and Philadelphia from as little as €169 each-way including taxes and charges.
Aer Lingus will re-introduce its long-haul network from Shannon in March to JFK and Boston with 14 flights per week to the USA.
Planned routes include
Dublin to
- Boston
- Chicago
- Los Angeles
- New York (JFK)
- Newark (New York)
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- San Francisco
- Seattle
- Toronto
- Washington DC
Shannon to
- Boston
- New York JFK
Manchester to
- Barbados (until April and restarting in Winter 22)
- New York (JFK)
- Orlando
Interestingly, the Manchester – Boston route has been axed.
European Network
Aer Lingus will ramp up short-haul capacity between now and Summer 2022, flying at least 50 short-haul routes next summer, 41 routes will fly from Dublin – with more to be added in the coming weeks, and a further 7 from Cork.
They will operate to Heathrow from Shannon and Belfast, and Gatwick from Knock.
The schedule will include destinations for Irish holidaymakers seeking summer sun next year in Spain, Portugal, Italy, the Canaries and the Med, as well as lots of city break destinations to choose from throughout Europe, with flights starting at €35.99 each-way including taxes and charges.
The planned destination list so far includes:
- Amsterdam
- Athens
- Barcelona
- Berlin
- Bilboa
- Birmingham
- Bordeaux
- Brussels
- Corfu
- Dubrovnik
- Dusseldorf
- Faro
- Frankfurt
- Geneva
- Gran Canaria
- Hamburg
- Izmir
- Lanzarote
- Linate (Milan)
- Lisbon
- London Gatwick
- London Heathrow
- Lyon
- Madrid
- Malaga
- Malpensa (Milan)
- Manchester
- Marseille
- Munich
- Nantes
- Naples
- Nice
- Palma
- Paris
- Pisa
- Prague
- Rome
- Santiago de Compostela
- Split
- Tenerife
- Toulouse
- Venice
- Verona
- Vienna
- Zurich
Booking policy
Aer Lingus has extended its ‘Book with Confidence’ policy which allows all customers travelling with the airline to change their travel dates free of charge, and as many times as they wish, up to seven days before they travel.
Note that a fare difference may apply if you change dates.
Most fares also include the option to exchange for a guaranteed voucher up to 14 days before travel. In addition, those who booked Advantage, Flex, Business or Business Flex fares have the option of a cash refund if they decide not to travel.
The flexible booking policy is available on all bookings up until 30th September 2022.
In Quotes
Reid Moody, Chief Strategy and Planning Officer, Aer Lingus said
“This is an ambitious schedule for Summer 2022 and an important step for the airline, and the country, as we reconnect Ireland to the world. We know from our customer research that Irish people are very keen to get back flying, and we certainly are looking forward to welcoming them on board again.
“Month by month, we can see more and more people taking to the skies again. We’re confident that the demand is there for travel next year, and that is reflected in our announcement today.
“We can assure everyone that we continue to deploy all of our health and safety measures from check-in through to boarding, and on-board the aircraft. We are also delighted to announce the extension of our market-leading book with confidence policy, giving customers the option to change flights for free* up to seven days before they fly.”
Aer Lingus plays it safe with its planned operation
The airline is very much playing Summer 2022 safe – to put it mildly, with destinations that are well known, marketable and proven.
However, there also seems to be a lack of ambition here too – with no destinations beyond Eastern Europe, along with nothing from Dublin to the Caribbean. Whist Aer Lingus’s network can be expanded thanks to its IAG family membership. it does feel like the network is a number of safe bets, rather than trying new destinations for Summer 2022.
Hopefully, the Summer 2023 timetable can be a little more exciting.
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