Aer Lingus passengers rise 2.4% but transatlantic routes continue decline

AER Lingus has seen a 2.4% rise in the number of passengers in April, but continues to be dogged by declining transatlantic travellers.

The airline’s April traffic figures, released yesterday, show that it carried a total of 779,000 passengers. While its short-haul routes saw a 3.3% rise in the number of travellers, its four US routes and service to Dubai suffered a 3.8% dip.

Aer Lingus long-haul destinations have been under pressure for a number of months. Since the start of the year it carried 331,000 people on its long-haul network, about 7,000 fewer than last year. The decline in long-haul passengers comes just months before the former semi-state carrier prepares to launch a series of new US routes and take delivery of new jets.