Aer Lingus has entered a new phase of its development with the announcement of a new non-stop service from Dubai to its base in Dublin, Ireland. Commencing March 2006, the service will operate three times a week and is expected to carry 70,000 passengers in the first year. This is the first time Aer Lingus has offered a long-haul destination outside of the USA and is the first step in the expansion of its new long-haul network.

Aer Lingus Chief Executive Dermot Mannion said, We are very pleased to introduce a new service between Dubai and our home base Dublin. This is a very positive step for the airline and demonstrates our commitment to the development of a low fares, long-haul strategy, embracing new routes with significant growth potential. Our twin track strategy encompasses both short-haul and long-haul routes, which provides us with a competitive edge, a unique offering and furthermore enhanced choice for our customers. Tourism and commerce links between the UAE and the Irish market has grown over the last 10 years, and our air services linking these two countries will help facilitate greater flows of leisure and business traffic both ways. We are confident that this route will be a major success.

Dubai will be the fifth route in the Aer Lingus long-haul network along with New York, Boston, Chicago and Los Angeles. In all, Aer Lingus has announced sixteen new routes in 2005. The eight-hour non-stop flight of 3682 miles to Dubai International Airport will be serviced by an Airbus A330 aircraft.