Aer Lingus launches nonstop Dublin to Raleigh-Durham service on Airbus A321XLR

Irish carrier Aer Lingus has inaugurated a nonstop transatlantic route between Dublin and Raleigh-Durham International Airport in North Carolina, marking the first direct air link between Ireland and the Research Triangle region.

According to CBS 17, the service operates five times weekly on an Airbus A321XLR, a next-generation narrowbody aircraft with a capacity of 184 passengers. The route makes Aer Lingus the fifth carrier to offer nonstop transatlantic service from RDU, joining Icelandair, Air France, Lufthansa and American Airlines.

Aer Lingus Chief Executive Lynne Embleton said the route created a direct connection between Ireland and the Raleigh-Durham region for the first time. "Launching ahead of the 2026 Aer Lingus College Football Classic makes this service especially timely," she said, referencing a fixture between the North Carolina Tar Heels and TCU Horned Frogs scheduled for 29 August at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.

Tammie Hall-Roberts, chair of the Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority Board, said Dublin was one of the most sought-after international destinations for Research Triangle-area travellers, describing the new service as connecting the region to business opportunities in Ireland and beyond.

The Airbus A321XLR, which entered commercial service in 2024, extends the operational range of the A321neo family to approximately 8,700 kilometres, enabling transatlantic point-to-point flying that was previously impractical for single-aisle aircraft. The type has been central to Aer Lingus's transatlantic expansion strategy, allowing the carrier to open thinner routes from Dublin that would not support widebody operations.

The new service also positions Dublin as a connecting hub for onward travel across the UK and Europe for North Carolina-based passengers.

Access the full story on how Aer Lingus is expanding its transatlantic network with new direct links between Dublin and North Carolina’s Research Triangle.