Pittsburgh leaders and Aer Lingus celebrate new direct flight to Dublin

Pittsburgh International Airport welcomed Aer Lingus as its 16th airline partner on Memorial Day, introducing four weekly direct flights to Dublin. The route, operated using state-of-the-art Airbus A321neo planes with capacity for up to 184 passengers, marks a significant expansion of transatlantic connections for the region. Steelers executive Dan Rooney III, who has deep Irish ancestry from County Down and County Mayo, led a delegation of local business leaders and politicians, including Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato and state Sen. Devlin Robinson, on the inaugural flight. The new route strengthens Pittsburgh’s economic and cultural ties with Ireland, a key market for both business and tourism. The delegation engaged in meetings with Irish Senate members and visited Google’s Dublin facility, demonstrating the region’s commitment to expanding European connections. Allegheny County Airport Authority CEO Christina Cassotis emphasized the delegation’s role in showcasing Pittsburgh’s potential for growth in leisure and business travel. Rooney’s involvement was particularly meaningful, as his family has long-standing ties to Ireland. His grandfather, the late Steelers owner Dan Rooney, founded the Ireland Fund in 1976 and later served as U.S. Ambassador to Ireland. The Steelers have a history of playing in Ireland, including the NFL’s first-ever game in Dublin’s Croke Park in 1997 and a regular-season matchup there in 2023. Negotiations for the Aer Lingus route began anew in 2023 after the airline initially passed on Pittsburgh in 2018 in favor of Minneapolis and Montreal. The Airport Authority secured the deal with a $5.25 million incentive package over two years, making Aer Lingus Pittsburgh’s third European airline partner after Icelandair and British Airways. Rooney called the launch emotional, highlighting the excitement of seeing the Aer Lingus plane land with Terrible Towels displayed by pilots. The route also supports Pittsburgh’s growing youth football program, as Rooney visited Dublin suburbs for the Steelers’ first international youth flag football championship. Local schoolchildren expressed interest in traveling to Pittsburgh, reflecting the mutual enthusiasm for cultural exchange.