Indianapolis International Airport (IND) celebrated a historic aviation milestone Saturday evening as Aer Lingus inaugurated its first nonstop transatlantic service from Dublin, Ireland.
Flight EI82 landed ahead of schedule, marking the debut of the airline’s two class 184-seat Airbus A321XLR, registered EI-XLT msn11590 named St Mella, at IND. The arrival was met with fanfare, welcoming passengers, many visiting Indiana for the first time.
Just over two hours later, the return leg, EI83, departed for Dublin, offering Indy travelers direct access to Europe via the Irish capital. The new service will operate four times weekly—Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays—as part of Aer Lingus’ expanded North American network.
Aer Lingus CEO Lynne Embleton, said “At Aer Lingus, our mission is to strengthen connectivity between North America and Europe. This new direct flight between Indianapolis and Dublin is a significant milestone for our airline, bringing the number of transatlantic routes we fly to a total of 24. Indianapolis is one of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the United States and a vibrant hub for business, sports, and culture. With this new service, Aer Lingus will offer the only direct flight connecting Indianapolis to Europe, fostering stronger business, cultural, and sporting ties across the Atlantic.”
Indianapolis Airport Authority executive director Mario Rodriguez, said “This is a big day for our team here at the Indy airport. “Our air service team worked diligently over the past five years to secure this opportunity, pursuing crucial industry conversations and transforming those into a full-scale community effort to connect Indy nonstop to Ireland and 20 other European cities.”
Air service analysis shows an average of 545 people travel from the Indianapolis area to European destinations daily. By attracting Indiana’s new year-round transatlantic flight, the IAA estimates that this new air service could have a more than $50 million annual impact on Indiana’s economy.
Indianapolis, one of the top 30 US metro areas with a population exceeding 2 million, is also a dynamic business hub. Although many global companies call the city home, Indianapolis has no direct connection with Europe. The new direct flight to Dublin will offer seamless connections between Indianapolis and more than 20 destinations across the UK and mainland Europe, including Paris, London, Frankfurt, Rome and Amsterdam.
While there were already strong, strategic economic connections between Indiana and Ireland, the recent news of Eli Lilly’s $1.8 billion investment in their two Irish facilities truly emphasizes the growing demand for a nonstop flight from Indy to Dublin. Additionally, Indiana is home to 52 Ireland-based businesses.
Image Credit: Aer Lingus
Irish Aviation Research Institute © 4 May 2025 All Rights Reserved
