Step forward for Aer Lingus’ UK-US plans

The Irish airline’s transatlantic route ambitions look set to be realized.
The US Transportation Department (DOT) has granted tentative approval for Irish carrier Aer Lingus
to begin marketing its planned UK-US routes.
The airline applied to the DOT in December to operate transatlantic service from Manchester (MAN) to Boston (BOS), New York John F Kennedy (JFK) and Orlando (MCO) with two Airbus A330-300s and two A321LRs.
A new subsidiary called Aer Lingus (U.K.) Ltd has been set up to fly the routes, but the UK-US flights
will operate under the Aer Lingus name and have the EI designator code.
The DOT has confirmed that “pendente lite exemption” has been given for the International Airlines Group-owned carrier to begin marketing and sales activities in the UK. However, final approval is being deferred until the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) issues Aer Lingus (U.K.) with an air
operator’s certificate.
Routes online