Fast track through Dublin to cut US travel time, urge flight professionals

6 March 2015

Fast-tracking through Dublin can save Aer Lingus passengers flying from Leeds Bradford International Airport (LBIA) valuable hours of queuing when they reach the US.

The airline says that U.S. customs and pre-clearance facilities at Dublin airport – the only European airport to have them - can save as much as three hours queuing to enter the US or Canada by completing all the necessary immigration and customs checks in Ireland.

Two daily flights from LBIA to Dublin are operated by Aer Lingus Regional and this will increase to three from March 29.

From Dublin Airport’s transatlantic hub, Aer Lingus flies to key North American destinations including New York, Boston, Chicago, Orlando, San Francisco, Washington and Toronto, and beyond to more than 100 U.S. destinations with partner airlines.

Last year, Aer Lingus launched new services from Dublin to San Francisco and Toronto and, from May this year, a new four times weekly service will start to Washington DC.

The San Francisco service will operate daily from 1 May and Aer Lingus will also have three daily departures to New York during the peak summer season.

For Leeds Bradford passengers connecting to North America via Dublin, Dublin Airport offers free unlimited Wi-Fi and a “DUB HUB” mobile service that provides flight information and detailed directions to gate.

Aer Lingus is the fastest growing European airline on transatlantic routes, having expanded its business by more than 20% to 1.3 million customers during the past year.

Leeds Bradford Airports' aviation development director, Tony Hallwood, says: "LBIA has seen significant growth in the number of Yorkshire passengers flying to North America with Aer Lingus in the first few months of 2015 as travellers become aware of the time savings and convenience offered by flying via Dublin.

“In addition the introduction of new Aer Lingus services this summer to Washington, increased frequencies on both New York and Orlando will provide even more reason to fly to North America via Dublin from Leeds Bradford."

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