Aer Lingus Just Opened a Brand New Direct Route Between Dublin and North Carolina

Aer Lingus has made history for the Research Triangle, touching down for the first time on North Carolina soil as it launched its inaugural nonstop service between Dublin and Raleigh-Durham International Airport on April 13, 2026, a milestone that opens a brand new transatlantic corridor and strengthens Ireland's ties with one of America's most dynamic innovation regions.

The new route directly connects the Tar Heel State and Ireland, whilst also offering seamless onward connections through Dublin to the UK and Europe, operating up to five times weekly on Aer Lingus' new Airbus A321XLR aircraft. 

Flight EI85 departs Dublin at 3:25 PM and arrives in Raleigh-Durham at 6:55 PM. The return service, EI84, departs from Raleigh-Durham at 8:25 PM and arrives in Dublin at 8:45 AM the following morning. The 3,601-mile flight is blocked at 8 hours 30 minutes westbound and 7 hours 20 minutes eastbound. The Airbus A321XLR features 184 seats, including 16 business class seats and 168 economy class seats.

Operated by Airbus A321XLR EI-XLT, the inaugural flight EI85 left Dublin just after 3:30 pm local time and is scheduled to arrive in North Carolina just before 7 pm local time. The flight crew: Captain Ken McManus, First Officer Richard Roche, Lesley Murphy, Cian Brophy, Eva Sismanidou and Aaron McAleenan, were pictured at Dublin Airport ahead of the airline's inaugural flight to Raleigh-Durham. 

Opening Up the Research Triangle

The new route to the Raleigh-Durham region brings increased connectivity to North Carolina's Research Triangle, which includes Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill. The innovation hub is home to Research Triangle Park (RTP), one of the largest research parks in the world, which houses hundreds of tech and biotech companies. The region is also home to top universities such as North Carolina State University, Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, making it a hub for innovation, research and higher education. 

Local business leaders were quick to highlight the economic significance of the link. Ryan Combs, executive director of the Research Triangle Regional Partnership, underlined Ireland's standing as a commercial partner: 

"They've got something like over 1,700 multinational companies located there. They've got one of the lowest corporate tax rates. And so a lot of companies choose to be in Ireland. And so having direct access to a market, that's one of the most important things. We continue to work to build relationships and drive investment from Ireland to North Carolina. And so having a flight like the Aer Lingus flight is going to open a lot of doors for us with that direct connectivity." 

Passengers from the Raleigh-Durham region gain access to more than 20 onward connections across the UK and Europe through Dublin, including Glasgow, Paris, Rome, Amsterdam, London and Madrid. 

CEO and Airport Authority React

Aer Lingus CEO Lynne Embleton highlighted the multi-dimensional significance of the new route. 

"Our new route creates a direct connection between Ireland and the Raleigh-Durham region for the first time, making it even easier for customers to travel to Dublin and onwards to destinations across the UK and Europe. The Raleigh-Durham region is a hub for technology, innovation and research, and this additional connectivity to that region will allow the business and educational ties on both sides of the Atlantic to flourish. Launching ahead of the 2026 Aer Lingus College Football Classic makes this service especially timely, and we're really looking forward to welcoming UNC fans to Ireland this August as the Tar Heels take to the field at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin." 

Tammie Hall-Roberts, Chair of the Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority Board, also welcomed the development. 

"Dublin is one of the most sought-after international destinations for Research Triangle-area travelers, and the nonstop Aer Lingus service makes for a quick and convenient journey. RDU is proud to welcome an exciting new route that connects our community to new adventures and business opportunities in Ireland and beyond." 

New Route Operations

All times are local. Route distance: 3,601 miles. Operated by Airbus A321XLR (184 seats: 16 Business Class, 168 Economy). Year-round service.

College Football, Timing and the Bigger Picture

The launch is no coincidence in its timing. The new Dublin-Raleigh-Durham service is perfectly poised to serve fans from the University of North Carolina travelling to the 2026 Aer Lingus College Football Classic at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin, this August. UNC will take on Texas Christian University in the opening weekend of the NCAA college football season in what will be the international debut for both teams. In 2025, the Aer Lingus College Football Classic attracted almost 23,000 visitors from the U.S. to Ireland. 

The new route is Aer Lingus' 23rd transatlantic route from Dublin, and passengers flying to the US from Dublin cannot only connect from 10 UK airports, but also take advantage of the US Immigration's pre-clearance facility, allowing them to arrive as domestic passengers. 

Looking ahead, next month Aer Lingus will add a new service to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, bringing the total number of direct routes between Ireland and North America to 24 for 2026.