Aer Lingus Adds Dublin–Raleigh-Durham For April 2026
ID 251551051 | Airlines © Craig Russell | Dreamstime.com
Aer Lingus will launch 5x-weekly nonstop service between Dublin (DUB) and Raleigh-Durham (RDU) starting April 13, 2026, continuing its strategy of tapping high-growth secondary U.S. markets with efficient narrow-body long-haul jets.
The Schedule
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EI85 DUB → RDU: dep 15:25, arr 18:55 (Mon/Tue/Thu/Fri/Sun)
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EI84 RDU → DUB: dep 20:25, arr 08:45 (+1 day) (Mon/Tue/Thu/Fri/Sun)
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Distance: ~3,601 miles
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Block times: 8h30 westbound; 7h20 eastbound
The Aircraft
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Type: Airbus A321XLR
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Seats: 184 total — 16 in business, 168 in economy
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Why it fits: XLR economics make “long-and-thin” routes viable while preserving a true lie-flat premium cabin on a single-aisle jet.
Why Raleigh-Durham?
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RDU has been a quiet transatlantic climber, already linked to Paris (Air France), London Heathrow (American), Keflavik (Icelandair), and Frankfurt (Lufthansa).
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A fast-growing tech and life-sciences region, strong O&D demand, and likely local incentives make it a textbook XLR market.
Network Context
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Aer Lingus continues expanding beyond traditional gateways, adding to a U.S. map that already includes BOS, ORD, CLE, DEN, BDL, IND, LAX, MIA, MSP, JFK, BNA, EWR, MCO, PHL, SFO, SEA, and IAD.
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Although part of the oneworld transatlantic JV, Aer Lingus often pursues independent network choices—RDU fits that pattern.
What This Unlocks For RDU Flyers
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Nonstop Ireland access plus fast one-stop connectivity over DUB to the UK and continental Europe.
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U.S. Preclearance in Dublin for westbound returns: clear U.S. customs/immigration before boarding, arrive stateside as a domestic passenger.
Schedule Practicalities
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RDU departure at 20:25 gives workable same-day connections from around the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic.
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Morning arrival into DUB at 08:45 lines up with banked connections to UK/Europe without excessively long layovers.
Product Snapshot
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Business: 16 lie-flat seats, direct-aisle access; XLR cabins typically include modern IFE and power at every seat.
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Economy: 168 seats with seatback entertainment and USB/AC power on most frames.
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Cabin feels: Narrow-body footprint but long-haul amenities; expect quieter cabins and lower seat-mile costs than widebodies on similar stage lengths.
Competitive Landscape
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Jointly with existing RDU-Europe flights, Aer Lingus adds Ireland O&D and a second JV carrier at the airport (alongside American to LHR).
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Icelandair remains the value one-stop via KEF; Lufthansa and Air France cover major hubs. DUB provides an alternative one-stop gateway with U.S. Preclearance as a differentiator.
Who Benefits Most
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Tech and pharma corporate travel in the Triangle needing Ireland/UK access.
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Leisure travelers eyeing Ireland and quick hops to Scotland and regional UK cities that are often cumbersome via mainland hubs.
What To Watch
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Introductory fares and corporate agreements as the route opens for sale.
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Summer frequency bumps if demand outperforms.
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How the XLR’s premium cabin performs vs. RDU’s existing widebody competitors on other routes.
Bottom Line
Starting April 13, 2026, Aer Lingus will connect Dublin and Raleigh-Durham five times weekly with the A321XLR, giving the Triangle its fifth nonstop link to Europe. The schedule dovetails with Dublin’s Preclearance advantage and onward connections, while the XLR’s economics make the long-and-thin profile work without sacrificing a proper lie-flat business cabin.
