Aer Arann announces new franchise routes for summer

Aer Arann today announced the addition of two new routes and increased frequencies on nine of its existing routes as it unveiled details of its summer flight schedule.

The two new Aer Lingus Regional routes which will be operated by Aer Arann under its franchise agreement with Aer Lingus are Dublin-Bournemouth effective from May 1 and Shannon-Rennes effective from June 9.

The new Dublin-Bournemouth service will operate six times a week; every day except Saturday, while the Shannon-Rennes service will operate as a weekly summer seasonal route from June 9 to September 1.

The new schedule will also see the return of the Dublin-Rennes, Cork-Rennes and Cork-Jersey summer services.

In total, Aer Arann will increase frequencies on nine of its Aer Lingus Regional services to Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Blackpool, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol and Rennes.

Tourism chiefs welcomed the news.

“I’m delighted to see these new services opening up, along with extra capacity on existing routes," said Tourism Minister Leo Varadkar.

"This is good news for Irish tourism and business, opening up new services for the UK, France and the Channel Islands. I wish the airline every success in operating these routes.”

Tourism Ireland Chief Executive Niall Gibbons said the new routes and increased frequencies would "certainly expand travel options for British and French holidaymakers who wish to visit Ireland".