Aer Lingus Pittsburgh service launches in 2026 with nonstop flights to Dublin, marking the city’s first-ever air link to Ireland.
Aer Lingus continues its steady expansion into midsize American cities, and its latest move brings Ireland one nonstop step closer to western Pennsylvania.
The Irish flag carrier has announced new service between Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) and Dublin Airport, with flights set to begin on Memorial Day, Monday, 25 May 2026. The route will operate four times weekly on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, marking the first time Pittsburgh and Dublin have ever been connected by air.
Aer Lingus Pittsburgh flights will operate year-round, with the exception of a planned midwinter pause during January and February.
Another Midsize City Joins Aer Lingus’ Growing US Network
Pittsburgh becomes the latest midsize US city to join Aer Lingus’ transatlantic network, following recent expansions to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE), Nashville International Airport (BNA), Bradley International Airport (BDL) in Hartford, CT, and Indianapolis International Airport. The airline is also set to begin service to Raleigh-Durham International Airport in April 2026.
As with these other markets, Aer Lingus is marketing Dublin as a powerful transatlantic hub. Through its Dublin operation, passengers from Pittsburgh will have access to more than 30 onward connections across Ireland, the United Kingdom, and Europe.
This route builds on our strong partnership with the Pittsburgh Steelers and further cements Aer Lingus’ position as a leading transatlantic carrier.
Susanne Carberry | Aer Lingus Chief Customer Officer
“Aer Lingus is particularly pleased to add Pittsburgh to our transatlantic network, having worked closely with partners in the region to make this a possibility,” said Susanne Carberry, Aer Lingus Chief Customer Officer. “This route builds on our strong partnership with the Pittsburgh Steelers and further cements Aer Lingus’ position as a leading transatlantic carrier. Through its Dublin hub, Aer Lingus provides convenient connections that link Pittsburgh with over 30 destinations across Europe and the U.K.”
Flight Schedule and Aircraft on the Aer Lingus Pittsburgh Route
Aer Lingus Pittsburgh flights will be operated using Aer Lingus’ Airbus A321neo LR aircraft, part of the airline’s modern narrowbody long-range fleet. As the newest A320-family variant to join Aer Lingus’ fleet, the airline believes it is ideally suited for this type of route, and joins the many other transatlantic routes that have commenced thanks to extended-range single-aisle aircraft. Aer Lingus’ A321neo LR boasts a range of approximately 4,000 nautical miles.
The westbound flight will depart Dublin at 1610. local time and arrive in Pittsburgh at 1910 local time, with a block of approximately eight hours. Eastbound service will depart Pittsburgh at 2040 local and arrive in Dublin at 0840 the following morning, with a flight time of about seven hours.
Aer Lingus’ A321neo LR is configured to seat up to 184 passengers, including 16 Business Class seats and 168 Economy seats. The Business Class cabin features fully lie flat beds measuring 6.5 feet in length, along with a generous 22-inch seat width.
A Third Transatlantic Route for Pittsburgh
The new Aer Lingus Pittsburgh service becomes the third transatlantic route currently served at Pittsburgh International Airport.
British Airways operates year-round flights between Pittsburgh and London Heathrow (LHR), while Icelandair offers seasonal service to Keflavík International Airport (KEF) in Reykjavik. Dublin now joins that short list, strengthening Pittsburgh’s international connectivity and opening direct access to Ireland for the first time.
The timing of the announcement comes amid a period of strong momentum and rapid expansion for the airport. In October 2025, Pittsburgh International Airport officially opened its new landside terminal, a transformative project that reshaped the passenger experience. With the addition of Aer Lingus, 16 airlines now serve PIT, and Dublin will become its 63rd nonstop destination.
Deep Ties Between Pittsburgh and Ireland
The establishment of Aer Lingus Pittsburgh service is supported by both economic and cultural ties between the two regions. Several Pittsburgh-based companies, including health care giant UPMC, maintain a presence in Ireland.
Sports also play a major role in the relationship. The Pittsburgh Steelers traveled to Dublin in September 2025 for a sold out game against the Minnesota Vikings at Croke Park. The Pitt Panthers are also scheduled to face the Wisconsin Badgers in Dublin as part of the Aer Lingus College Football Classic in 2027. Aer Lingus is already an official airline partner of the Steelers.
There is also a strong ancestral connection. Approximately 16 percent of Yinzers identify as having Irish descent.
“The Pittsburgh region’s connections to Ireland run deep, both in today’s strong business market and ancestral ties, and this is a route that community leaders have been seeking,” said Pittsburgh International Airport CEO Christina Cassotis. “We are thrilled to have a partner in Aer Lingus that will serve Pittsburgh’s growing market for nonstop service to Ireland and beyond, and we look forward to welcoming even more European travelers to Pittsburgh.”
A Preclearance Advantage in Dublin
Passengers flying from Dublin to Pittsburgh will benefit from US Customs and Border Protection Preclearance. This allows travelers to complete US immigration and customs formalities before departure, arriving in the United States as domestic passengers.
Dublin is one of only two European airports offering US CBP Preclearance, along with Shannon Airport (SNN), also located in Ireland. The facility is located in Terminal 2 at Dublin Airport.
From Hub Collapse to Comeback Story
PIT’s resurgence has been years in the making. Once a major hub for USAir and later US Airways, the airport faced a sharp downturn following the airline’s dehubbing of the city in 2004.
In the years that followed, PIT experienced an identity crisis, struggling to redefine itself without a dominant hub carrier. Over the last decade, however, the airport has deliberately repositioned itself to reflect the city and region rather than a single airline. That strategy has paid off, with a steady stream of new carriers, destinations, and international routes returning to the airfield.
The arrival of Aer Lingus at Pittsburgh represents another chapter in that recovery and a clear signal that the airport’s long-term strategy is working.
Aer Lingus Pittsburgh Flights Join the Narrowbody Transatlantic Revolution
Aer Lingus is Ireland’s flag carrier and has been in operation since 1936. The airline serves 97 destinations and operates an all Airbus fleet of 60 aircraft as of December 2025.
The fleet includes:
- 27 A320-200s
- 8 A320neos
- 8 A321LRs
- 5 A321XLRs
- 3 A330-200s
- 10 A330-300s
With Pittsburgh now joining its transatlantic network, Aer Lingus continues to show how long-range narrowbody aircraft are reshaping international travel and opening new nonstop connections between cities that once relied on hubs alone.
It will be interesting to see how this trend plays out, particularly with so many carriers joining the narrowbody transatlantic revolution. From American to Iberia, to United, and now Aer Lingus, we wonder who will be next. I’ve read that SAS is considering it, but nothing is set in stone at this time.
For those who still prefer widebody service to travel abroad, Delta Air Lines has your back. The carrier states that it will not introduce narrowbody service like its competitors anytime soon and will instead focus on maintaining “brand continuity” between its A350, A330, and 767 aircraft. There is one exception, though: Delta does operate the 757-200 to Reykjavik seasonally.
