Which 17 New Flights Are Launching from Dublin, Cork, and Shannon in 2026?

January 8, 2026 at 06:33 AM•3 min read

Aer Lingus and partner airlines are significantly expanding the Irish aviation network in 2026, adding up to 17 new routes from Dublin, Cork, and Shannon airports, including a new transatlantic service to Pittsburgh.

Key Points

1Up to 17 new flight routes are launching from Dublin, Cork, and Shannon airports in 2026, significantly expanding the Irish network.
2Aer Lingus is introducing a new transatlantic service from Dublin to Pittsburgh, USA, utilizing the Airbus A321neo LR aircraft.
3Key new European destinations include Nice, Santiago de Compostela, Oslo, Montpellier, and Rome, boosting both leisure and business travel.
4Gulf carriers Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Etihad are increasing flight frequencies to Dublin, enhancing global long-haul connectivity.

The Irish aviation market is seeing a significant network expansion. Airlines are launching up to 17 new routes for 2026. This growth focuses on key airports: Dublin, Cork, and Shannon. The additions span North America, new European city breaks, and sun destinations. This move strengthens Ireland’s position as a major European travel hub.

Transatlantic and Long-Haul Expansion

Aer Lingus is spearheading the long-haul growth. A major new service connects Dublin to Pittsburgh, USA. This route will operate four times weekly. The airline will use its fuel-efficient Airbus A321neo LR aircraft. This addition brings Aer Lingus’s total North American routes from Ireland to 24. The service starts in May 2026. It supports the airline’s Dublin Hub strategy. This strategy offers seamless connections between North America and Europe. Another highly anticipated long-haul route is Dublin to Cancun, Mexico. This service commenced in January 2026.

Gulf Carrier Frequency Increases

Dublin Airport is also seeing increased capacity to the Middle East. Emirates is adding a third daily flight to Dubai. Qatar Airways is increasing its Doha service to 17 flights per week. Etihad is also raising its frequency to Abu Dhabi. This enhances global connectivity for Irish passengers.

New European City Breaks and Sun Routes

The bulk of the Irish airport network expansion is across Europe. These new European city breaks 2026 offer diverse options. From Dublin, Aer Lingus is launching several new destinations. These include Oslo (Norway), Montpellier (France), and Asturias (Spain). The airline also added a new service to Tromsø, Norway, for Arctic adventures. Ryanair is extending its Dublin to Rabat, Morocco, route into the winter months. SkyUp is also a new carrier, connecting Dublin to Chișinău, Moldova.

Regional Airport Growth

Regional airports are also gaining significant new routes. Cork Airport is expanding its European network. Aer Lingus new routes 2026 from Cork include Nice (France) and Santiago de Compostela (Spain). The Cork-Prague service is also becoming year-round. Separately, Cork is gaining a new service to Antalya, Turkey. Shannon Airport is also adding key European connections. New flights from Shannon include Rome (Italy), Warsaw (Poland), and Poznan (Poland).

Industry Impact and Opportunities

This surge in new routes is a positive signal for the post-pandemic recovery. It provides a major boost to regional economies. The new services offer greater choice and connectivity for passengers. The Dublin to Pittsburgh service is particularly important for business and cultural ties. The use of modern aircraft, like the Airbus A321neo LR, highlights a focus on operational efficiency. Aviation stakeholders must now manage the increased passenger flow. This is especially true given the ongoing discussions about passenger capacity at Dublin Airport, as reported by the source. For more commercial aviation news, visit https://flying.flights.