The UK’s biggest regional airline Loganair (LM/LOG) has taken another step to increasing its global connectivity with an interline deal with Aer Lingus (EI/EIN).
9The deal will see it open up transatlantic routes to its customers via Manchester (MAN/EGCC) and Dublin (DUB/EIDW) with the Irelands premier airline.
Passengers from Aberdeen and Inverness for example can fly direct to the US via Dublin on one ticket and all baggage transfers taken care of and the added bonus of being able to clear US customs in Dublin so arriving into the US as a domestic passenger.
Similarly Isle of Man and Newquay passengers can go via Manchester although there is no facility to pre-clear customs there as of yet.
Jonathan Hinkles, Loganair’s Chief Executive, said:“Loganair are incredibly pleased to announce this partnership with Aer Lingus, which adds to our ever-increasing portfolio of interline and codeshare agreements.
Through our partnership, customers flying to America from Scotland via Dublin can clear customs in Ireland before departure and enter the US with the comfort of knowing they can start their vacation as soon as they land stateside. We look forward to working with Aer Lingus long into the future.”
Reid Moody, Chief Strategy and Planning Officer at Aer Lingus added: “As we enter into peak summer with our largest transatlantic schedule to date, we are delighted to announce our interline agreement with Loganair, giving customers that are connecting from Manchester and Dublin more access and choice to North America.
“Today, close to 40% of our transatlantic passengers connect in Dublin, which we hope will now increase with this new partnership. We look forward to welcoming new customers on board to experience Aer Lingus’ transatlantic experience as well as the added advantage of clearing US preclearance pre-departure in Dublin airport meaning you arrive like a local stateside.’’
Loganair also has interline agreements with other airlines including British Airways, Etihad, United Airlines and Finnair.