Direct Flights from Bradley to Dublin Coming in 2016

Governor Dannel P. Malloy and officials from the Connecticut Airport Authority (CAA) announced the reestablishment of transatlantic service at Bradley International Airport and unveiled new, non-stop Aer Lingus service between Windsor Locks and Dublin, Ireland.

Malloy was joined at a Wednesday news conference with CAA Board Chair Mary Ellen Jones, CAA Executive Director Kevin Dillon, Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner (DECD) Catherine Smith, Aer Lingus Executive Vice President for North America Jack Foley, and members of the business community from across the state.

The Aer Lingus-operated flight, using Boeing 757 aircraft, will be daily starting September 2016. It will include one evening departure from Bradley at 6:20 p.m. that arrives in Dublin at 5:20 a.m., and one afternoon departure from Dublin at 2:30 p.m. that arrives at Bradley at 4:40 p.m. Each flight will include 12 business class seats. The airline’s current 757 fleet is powered by locally manufactured Pratt & Whitney PW2000 engines.

“This is about growing our economy, boosting tourism, and building a Connecticut for the future,” Malloy said in a statement. “We have been working on this for years, and with today’s announcement, it will soon become a reality. Traveling to and from Connecticut will be easier with direct access to Europe, and the many international hubs that Aer Lingus serves throughout the world. This new flight will not just ease travel for residents, it opens the door to connecting our state to new businesses opportunities and new economic development initiatives.

“We have a significant corporate base within Connecticut and our surrounding states that have substantial regional and European connectivity needs. As a centrally located, major airport, Bradley will continue to be an important economic driver for Connecticut. We welcome Aer Lingus to Windsor Locks and we look forward to their many years of service in our state.”

Read more from the press release below:

“Aer Lingus is pleased to mark the beginning of this new partnership with Bradley International Airport and the State of Connecticut,” Aer Lingus CEO Stephen Kavanagh said. “The addition of daily two class service aboard B757 will connect Hartford directly with our Dublin gateway and provide convenient connections to a wide range of British and European cities. This opportunity to serve the business and tourism markets in Connecticut is something that Aer Lingus is uniquely positioned to deliver upon and I’d like to thank all those who have lent their support to this initiative. We look forward to welcoming our guests on-board in 2016.”

The new flight comes after Governor Malloy created the Connecticut Airport Authority in 2011 with the specific aim of enhancing Bradley – as well as the state’s five other general aviation airports – into vibrant economic drivers and attract flights and services like those announced today. As a result of the CAA’s renewed focus on route development, passenger levels at Bradley increased 8.4% in 2014.

Under Governor Malloy’s direction, there are several projects currently underway aimed at revitalizing Bradley’s facilities, including the demolition of the airport’s Murphy Terminal, which will be followed by a road realignment project and the construction of a consolidated rental car facility. And in the coming years, there are plans to increase public transit to the airport, including bus service to the Windsor Locks Train Station on the Hartford Line commuter rail service between New Haven and Springfield, which is currently under development.

“The reestablishment of transatlantic service at Bradley International Airport has been one of the Connecticut Airport Authority’s top priorities,” CAA Board Chair Mary Ellen S. Jones said. “The new Aer Lingus service will not only provide our region’s business and leisure travelers with convenient access to Ireland, but it also promises connecting service through Dublin to other major hubs in Europe and beyond.”

Dublin Airport boasts a number of unique advantages for travelers. As one of the few airports outside of North America that offers U.S. Customs and Border Protection preclearance, Bradley-bound passengers will be able to undergo all necessary inspections while waiting for departure from Dublin.

“We pride ourselves at Bradley on our convenience, and this development ensures that our region’s passengers will not need to endure any more long drives to JFK or Logan for their international travel needs,” CAA Executive Director Kevin A. Dillon, A.A.E. said. “Additionally, due to Dublin preclearance, passengers will be able to walk off their arriving flight at Bradley as if they were domestic travelers, resulting in a significant time savings.”

“The reestablishment of transatlantic service at Bradley sends a clear message to the world that Connecticut is open for business,” DECD Commissioner Catherine Smith said. “Bradley is already one of our state’s most crucial economic drivers, and this new service will bolster connectivity for our current businesses, stimulate further regional development, and attract new companies to the state.”

The international route follows recent domestic service additions at Bradley, including new United Airlines service to George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Texas, and JetBlue service to Reagan National Airport in Washington, DC.

Bradley most recently offered transatlantic service with a flight to Amsterdam operated by Northwest Airlines, which was discontinued in 2009 when the airline merged with Delta at the start of the Great Recession. Bradley continues to offer international flights to Canada and Mexico.