Aer Lingus adds Cork, Dublin summer flights

Aer Lingus said on April 30 that it would add three new short-haul services to its summer 2026 schedule, with flights from Cork to Nice and from Dublin to Oslo and Asturias. The Irish carrier said the three routes would begin on Saturday, May 2, as it expands its European network for the peak travel season. The announcement was set out in an Aer Lingus press release and on the airline’s summer 2026 booking pages. The carrier’s own materials show a broader summer 2026 push than the three routes cited in some reports. Aer Lingus said in December that it planned five new European routes for summer 2026, adding Dublin services to Oslo, Montpellier and Asturias, plus Cork services to Nice and Santiago de Compostela. ### Which routes are actually new, and from which airports? (mediacentre.aerlingus.com) Aer Lingus said the three services launching first are Cork-Nice, Dublin-Oslo and Dublin-Asturias. In its April 30 release, the airline said Cork-Nice would commence on Saturday and the two Dublin routes would also take off for the first time that day. The airline’s booking page gives the same start date for all three. (mediacentre.aerlingus.com) Aer Lingus lists Dublin-Oslo from May 2, 2026, Dublin-Asturias from May 2, 2026, and Cork-Nice from May 2, 2026. ### Why does this differ from reports that framed it as a May 17 unveiling? May 17, 2026 appears to reflect later coverage rather than the original company announcement. (mediacentre.aerlingus.com) Aer Lingus published the press release on April 30, 2026, and described the routes as launching “this weekend,” with service beginning on May 2. (aerlingus.com) The airline had flagged the same routes even earlier, on December 11, 2025, when it announced five new European routes for summer 2026. That earlier release named Oslo, Montpellier and Asturias from Dublin, and Nice and Santiago de Compostela from Cork. ### What else is Aer Lingus adding for summer 2026? Aer Lingus said seasonal routes from Dublin to Pisa, Catania, Nantes, Santorini and Corfu would also return the same weekend as the three new launches. (mediacentre.aerlingus.com) The airline also said its Dublin-Denver service was back for summer 2026. Further additions are scheduled later in the season. (mediacentre.aerlingus.com) Aer Lingus said Dublin-Montpellier would begin on May 19, Cork-Santiago de Compostela on June 1, an Aer Lingus Regional service operated by Emerald Airlines would start Dublin-Inverness on May 21, and Dublin-Tours would begin on June 6. ### How does Aer Lingus describe the wider network plan? (mediacentre.aerlingus.com) Aer Lingus said in December that the summer 2026 expansion would cover both European and transatlantic flying. The airline said it would operate 24 routes from Ireland to North America in 2026, including new services to Raleigh-Durham and Pittsburgh. Reid Moody, Aer Lingus chief strategy and planning officer, said on April 30 that the summer schedule would give customers “greater choice and flexibility” and said the U.S. additions strengthened the airline’s transatlantic offering. (mediacentre.aerlingus.com) Moody also said Aer Lingus’ Dublin hub supports connections between North America and its European network. ### Where can travelers verify the dates and book? Aer Lingus lists the routes on its summer 2026 page and says bookings are open. The page states that Dublin-Oslo and Dublin-Asturias start on May 2, Dublin-Montpellier on May 19, Dublin-Tours on June 6, Cork-Nice on May 2, and Cork-Santiago de Compostela on June 1. May 25, 2026 is the next named milestone on the airline’s wider 2026 network plan. (mediacentre.aerlingus.com) Aer Lingus said its new Dublin-Pittsburgh transatlantic service is due to begin that day, following the early-May European launches. (mediacentre.aerlingus.com) (aerlingus.com)