Aer Lingus announced new nonstop flights between Denver International Airport (DEN) and Dublin Airport (DUB) beginning May 17, 2024. This will be the first-ever service by Aer Lingus to DEN.
"Cead mille faite! Both sides of my family emigrated to the United States from Ireland, and I'm excited to reconnect many Denverites to their ancestral homeland through these new nonstop flights to Dublin," said Denver Mayor Mike Johnston. "This new service will also support our goal to be one of the strongest economic cities in the United States. Ireland is a top growth market for trade and investment opportunities in many of Denver's strongest industries, and there is incredible opportunity for increased collaboration, bilateral exchange, and communication as a result of this new service."
Aer Lingus will become the 24th airline to serve DEN and will operate four days per week, Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, in the summer season onboard a 271-seat Airbus A330 aircraft. Passengers on this route can take advantage of U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Preclearance program at Dublin Airport, which allows Denver-bound passengers to clear U.S. immigration and customs in Dublin, expediting their arrival in Denver.
The new Dublin-Denver service will bring the total number of routes operated by Aer Lingus to 18 between North America and Ireland. This strategic expansion reflects the airline’s commitment to its Dublin Hub strategy, not just between North America and Ireland, but also offering seamless connections to Europe, including London and the UK, Paris, Amsterdam, Barcelona and Frankfurt, among others.
“With Dublin’s geographic position as the gateway to Europe, pre-clearance facilities at the airport and the strong, long established Irish American ties, Aer Lingus is ideally placed to connect people and places across the Atlantic,” Aer Lingus Chief Executive, Lynne Embleton said.
“Denver is a significant business destination within the US and the launch of Aer Lingus’ non-stop route facilitates corporate links and connectivity between North America and Europe, through our Dublin Hub. Denver’s position as the ‘Gateway to the Rockies’ and its outdoor appeal, from world class skiing to hiking, opens up a whole new US experience to leisure travellers from Ireland and Europe.”
The new Aer Lingus service to Dublin is estimated to produce over $65 million in annual economic impact to Colorado’s economy and support the creation of more than 400 new jobs across the state, generating over $25 million in additional wages. With these new flights, DEN will offer nonstop access to a total of 28 destinations in 16 countries, including seven destinations across six countries in Europe.
“The establishment by Aer Lingus of this new transatlantic route helps us further our Vision 100 goal to increase global connectivity for our customers,” DEN CEO Phil Washington said. “We’re pleased to welcome Aer Lingus as DEN’s newest airline partner and look forward to inaugurating service next spring.”
Dublin ranks as one of Denver’s largest unserved markets in Europe, with more than 40,000 travelers between the two cities annually. Demand in 2023 has surpassed pre-COVID levels, and this new service is expected to further stimulate demand by facilitating access for Denver metro-area residents to explore all Ireland has to offer, including unique historic and cultural sites. In addition, travelers from Ireland will find Denver to be the perfect gateway to the sunny skies of Colorado and the Rocky Mountains. Business travelers will benefit from access via Dublin which also serves as a gateway to destinations across the European Union.
“The Irish community in Denver, Colorado and the Rocky Mountain region has long desired this flight to further expand tourism and business travel with Ireland,” said Jim Lyons, Honorary Consul of Ireland for Colorado. “The links between Ireland and the Mountain West run long and deep. We thank Aer Lingus for their investment, and we applaud the hard work of the Mayor, the DEN team and Colorado’s economic development agencies which have helped to make this flight a reality.”
Flights are now available for sale and scheduled to depart Denver at 8:45 p.m. and arrive in Dublin at 12:30 p.m. the next day. Returning flights from Dublin will depart at 4:15 p.m., arriving in Denver at 7:00 p.m.
"This new flight from Denver to Dublin via Aer Lingus is exciting for our state. We look forward to welcoming visitors from Dublin to explore and experience all that our state has to offer and promote investment, trade, and cultural exchange between Dublin and Colorado," said Colorado Governor Jared Polis.
