Dublin Airport welcomes Spanish airline Vueling’s decision to launch a new Dublin-Barcelona service from next March.
The route will operate six times per week in August and four times per week for the rest of the summer season, which runs from late March until late October. Vueling, which is part of IAG, will join its sister airlines BA and Iberia, both of which already operate from Dublin Airport.
“We’re delighted to welcome Vueling to Ireland,” said Dublin Airport Managing Director Vincent Harrison. “This new Barcelona service will offer additional choice and convenience for both business and leisure passengers.”
Spain is a growing market for Irish tourism and Vueling’s new service is expected to generate a healthy portion of inbound traffic to Dublin as well as taking Irish-based passengers to Barcelona.
More than a quarter of a million Spanish tourists visited Ireland in 2011, with more than half of those opting for a short break holiday, according to Tourism Ireland. Dublin is the key destination for Spanish tourists to Ireland, with more than 90% of them visiting the capital during their stay in Ireland.
Vueling, which is based at Barcelona’s El Prat Airport, operates 285 routes at 131 airports in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The Dublin service was one of 31 new summer 2015 routes announced by Vueling today.
Vueling will operate its new Dublin route with an Airbus A320 aircraft with 180 seats in a single class configuration. Flights will operate from late March until late October with four return flights per week initially, rising to six flights per week in the month of August.
Passenger numbers at Dublin Airport have increased by 7% in the first nine months of this year, as more than 16.6 million people have passed through the airport.
