Aer Lingus launches new route from Ireland to North Carolina

Airline will also increase transatlantic capacity from both Dublin and Shannon 

Aer Lingus cabin crew member Elizabeth Farrell in downtown Raleigh. Aer Lingus has announced a new route between Dublin and North Carolina as part of an extended transatlantic schedule in 2026.

Aer Lingus has announced a new route between Dublin and North Carolina as part of an extended transatlantic schedule in 2026.

The Irish airline launched its 2026 transatlantic schedule on Wednesday, with additional capacity from both Dublin and Shannon to many existing routes including New York and Boston. 

The new route to Raleigh-Durham International Airport will commence on April 13, operating five times per week, reducing to four times per week in winter. Fares start from €299 each way. The service will connect the cities of Raleigh and Durham to Ireland and serve the wider State of North Carolina, with its population of over 11m. 

The new service will also be underway in time to serve fans from the University of North Carolina (UNC) travelling to the 2026 Aer Lingus College Football Classic in the Aviva Stadium, Dublin, next August, where UNC will take on Texas Christian University (TCU). In 2025, the Aer Lingus College Football Classic attracted almost 23,000 visitors from the US to Ireland.

“We’re delighted to be adding Raleigh-Durham International Airport to our growing North American network. It’s a vibrant and thriving region with well-established links to Ireland, that will be further strengthened with our new direct service," said Aer Lingus chief executive Lynne Embleton.

Aer Lingus services from Shannon to Boston will increase by three weekly flights to 10 in peak summer.

Aer Lingus is also adding a third daily flight from Dublin to New York JFK and a new third daily flight to Boston. The additional flights will have a late evening departure from Dublin and late-night departures from New York and Boston.

Routes from Dublin to Nashville and Indianapolis, which launched earlier this year, will both see frequency increased from four weekly flights to five next summer, and Dublin to Orlando will increase to daily flights in peak summer season.