Flybe and Aer Lingus codeshare pact to open North America routes

Flybe and Aer Lingus have entered into a codeshare agreement aimed at facilitating access to various North American destinations via Dublin. Media reports said that the deal will enable customers of low-cost carrier Flybe booking flights from Southampton, Southend and Inverness to gain seamless access to Aer Lingus-operated transatlantic flights with a stopover in Dublin.

Aer Lingus has been gradually extending its North Atlantic network, which also includes 10 flights daily to Toronto, Chicago, Orlando, San Francisco, New York and Boston. With this pact Flybe customers will be able to book flights to these key U.S. destinations as well.

Apart from the new Aer Lingus pact, Flybe is already into codeshare partnerships with five other international carriers including KLM, Finnair, Etihad Airways, British Airways and Air France. The airline among others also has 17 interline partners as well including Qatar Airways, Air Portugal, Delta Air Lines, Virgin Atlantic Airways and Emirates Airline.

Paul Simmons, Chief Commercial Officer of Flybe, said that the airline’s new codeshare pact with Aer Lingus is an exciting development and it’s a matter of great delight that Flybe has found a new partner in a reputed airline like Aer Lingus. He also said that the airline is committed to offer seamless connectivity from various regions of the UK, particularly south east hub airports.

Stephen Kavanagh, Chief Strategy and Planning Officer of Aer Lingus, said that with the combining of services of the two airlines the customers flying with either of the carriers will benefit from the enhanced network reach and also become a catalyst in further developing Aer Lingus transatlantic hub at Dublin thus providing advantage to the customers in the U.S. and the UK.