Aer Lingus confirms December launch of nonstop routes from the US to Manchester, flights now on sale

After several delays, Aer Lingus has confirmed they will launch nonstop transatlantic flights from New York (JFK) and Orlando (MCO) to Manchester (MAN) from Dec. 1 and Dec. 11 respectively. Flights are now on sale.

This confirmation follows the news that fully vaccinated British and European travelers can finally enter the United States from early November. Aer Lingus has cited this lengthy ban as a primary reason for continuing to delay the launch of these unique routes.

In total, the Irish carrier announced in March that it planned to launch four transatlantic flights from Manchester to New York, Boston (BOS), Orlando and Barbados (BGI). The airline still plans to launch Manchester to Boston nonstop in summer 2022.

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Two of the routes — from New York and Boston — will be operated by Aer Lingus' new Airbus A321LR. When the New York route first launches, the airline will become only the second to operate transatlantic flights from the U.S. to the U.K. with the narrow-body A321LR on regularly scheduled services, after the highly anticipated and well-received new JetBlue service.

On the leisure routes — from Orlando and Barbados — Aer Lingus will utilise one of its wide-body Airbus A330 aircraft.

"We are delighted to offer high-quality, direct, nonstop, business and leisure travel options, at very reasonable prices for travelers and holidaymakers across the North of England," Aer Lingus Chief Commercial Officer David Shepherd said in a statement back in March. "Aer Lingus has been flying to North America for more than 60 years and we also have a proud history with Manchester Airport.

Visitors to the North of England, in particular those in the North West, will now have the option to book using Avios for nonstop transatlantic travel to Manchester from Boston, New York, Orlando and Barbados instead of travelling down to London.

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Award redemption rates will be offered at the following levels:

• Manchester – New York: 20,000 Avios oneway in economy on peak dates (13,000 on off-peak dates)
• Manchester – Orlando: 25,000 Avios peak (16,250 off-peak)
• Manchester – Barbados: 16,250 Avios all dates

Award rates to Boston are still not known, but should be the same as for New York. The carrier may join the Oneworld alliance at a later date due to their close association with British Airways, though right now you cannot use non-Avios Oneworld miles such as AAdvantage miles to fly on Aer Lingus.

Related: Aer Lingus business class on the A321neo, Dublin to Philadelphia

Aer Lingus is promising oneway fares on New York and Orlando flights from as low as £179 ($245) each way though these appear to have already been all snapped up with all oneway fares being two to three times this price. One-way fares between the U.K. and the U.S. are notoriously expensive on legacy carriers, often being much higher than roundtrip fares on the same route.

Low-cost carrier Norwegian temporarily solved this problem with their excellent oneway fares though they have ceased long-haul operations permanently because of the pandemic.

Additional reporting by Ben Smithson.