An already fruitful year at Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) is about to end on an even higher note.
The airport has just opened its new $1.7 billion terminal and launched a coveted new route to Europe. Aer Lingus said on Thursday it would launch direct flights to its Dublin Airport (DUB) hub.
The Airbus A321neo LR jet will begin operations on 25 May 2026, serving more than 30 of the airline’s other European destinations via Dublin. Among them: Paris, Rome, Amsterdam, Berlin, Venice and Manchester, UK.
more: Inside Pittsburgh’s Gleaming New $1.7 Billion Terminal | Futuristic New Signage
The Dublin flight is a win for the airport which has successfully transformed itself into a vibrant regional airport over the past decade.
Pittsburgh was one of the busiest airports in the United States at the turn of the century, but its passenger traffic plummeted as US Airways (which merged with American Airlines) abandoned a hub built to the airline’s specifications.
But the airport has enjoyed a renaissance under the leadership of Christina Cassotis, who took over as PIT CEO in 2015.
The airport is focused on rebuilding its flight schedule around local market needs rather than the connecting schedule that defines US Airways hub days. These include efforts to restore some of the high-profile transatlantic routes the city enjoyed in its hub heyday.
Aer Lingus’ new Pittsburgh-Dublin route
Aer Lingus will fly from Pittsburgh to Dublin for the first time.
Reward your inbox with the TPG daily newsletter
Join over 700,000 readers and get breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive offers from TPG experts
It will also be the city’s third current transatlantic route (besides London and Reykjavik).
“We are delighted to be partnering with Aer Lingus to serve Pittsburgh’s growing market for direct flights to Ireland and beyond, and we look forward to welcoming even more European travelers to Pittsburgh,” PIT CEO Cassotis said in a statement announcing the new flights to Dublin.
As for Aer Lingus, the addition of Pittsburgh comes amid a wider six-route expansion that also includes five intra-European routes from Ireland.
Aer Lingus will fly the route four times a week, with one return flight every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, according to the airline’s new Pittsburgh schedule. The service will operate year-round, except for “a brief pause in January and February.”
Flight times are:
- Departing Pittsburgh at 8:40 pm and arriving in Dublin at 8:40 am
- Departing Dublin at 4:10pm and arriving in Pittsburgh at 7:10pm
Tickets are on sale now. Frequent flyers can also redeem their awards on Aer Lingus, which uses the same Avios rewards currency as many other airlines in Europe and elsewhere.
Book with Aer Lingus using points and miles
Frequent travelers who want to use points and miles to fly with Aer Lingus have a number of options.
Travelers can transfer American Express Membership Rewards points, Chase Ultimate Rewards points and Bilt Rewards points directly to Aer Lingus AerClub.
Also worth noting: The airline shares the same Avios reward currency as British Airways, Iberia, Qatar Airways and Finnair (among others). If you have Avios from any of these airlines, there’s a new tool to help you transfer your Avios directly to Aer Lingus.
For the same purpose: Capital One cardholders can transfer miles to British Airways Club and then transfer those Avios to Aer Lingus.
Citi Appreciation Rewards members can do the same through Qatar.
Related reading:
