Aer Lingus boosted by new flight agreement

AER LINGUS plans to turn Dublin Airport into a major European hub for flights to and from the US on foot of the Open Skies agreement signed by EU transport ministers yesterday.

The airline will add three routes to its current four to the US this September and October and plans to add several more next year.

Open Skies, which sees the end of the mandatory Shannon stopover for half of all flights into Ireland, could also give the western gateway a new lease of life and create potential business for Cork and Knock airports.