New link between London and Dublin

Leading Irish showbiz celebrities*, music from traditional ceilidh band Wraggle Taggle, Black Velvet cocktails and a huge plane shaped cake were all part of celebrations marking the launch of a new link between Essex and Ireland. Daily flights to and from London Southend Airport and Dublin with Aer Lingus Regional, operated by Aer Arann, started on Thursday 10 May 2012. Travellers will also be able to take advantage of connecting Aer Lingus transatlantic flights via Dublin to New York, Boston, Chicago and Orlando. Not only that, passengers on these flights can also take advantage of the unique US Customs and Immigrations pre-clearance facilities at Dublin Airport, allowing them to arrive in the USA as domestic passengers. With direct morning, mid-afternoon and evening flights between London Southend Airport and Dublin, Aer Lingus Regional is offering a new competitive choice for both the day return business passenger and the longer-stay leisure passenger. Passengers flying out from London Southend will wait for a maximum of four-minutes for security, whilst those arriving with just hand luggage can expect to travel from plane to train within 15 minutes of their aircraft doors opening. The new railway station is less than 100 paces from the terminal and has up to eight services per hour to and from London – the airport is the only one in the UK with a direct mainline rail connection with the Olympic Games at Stratford. 10 May is also the official opening of a new Aer Lingus Regional base at London Southend Airport. A total of fifteen Aer Lingus Regional staff - including pilots and cabin crew – are now permanently located at London Southend. Sean Brogan, Interim Chief Executive, Aer Arann commented “We are delighted to commence our new Aer Lingus Regional Dublin to London Southend service today.  We are confident that there will be strong demand for these services and that our passengers will be benefit from the unique convenience and direct access to central London that London Southend Airport has to offer. We look forward to welcoming more and more passengers on board our Aer Lingus Regional flights to London Southend today and into the future.” Welcoming the new services, Stephen Kavanagh, Chief Commercial Officer, Aer Lingus commented, “Aer Lingus welcomes the introduction of the new service from Dublin to London Southend which enables us to not only expand our route network between Dublin and the UK but will also help to boost traffic on our transatlantic service from Dublin to the USA.” Alastair Welch, Managing Director London Southend Airport said, “Dublin is a welcome addition to the services we offer, especially with the very exciting potential for convenient onward journeys to the USA. We look forward to welcoming Aer Lingus passengers for both Dublin and America to our brand new passenger terminal and redeveloped airport.”