Dublin Airport welcomed Thomson Airways 787 Dreamliner for the first time to Ireland today.
The visit was to celebrate the launch of two long-haul routes to Mexico and Jamaica direct from Dublin Airport during summer 2016 and to showcase the aircraft to the travel industry.
daa Chief Executive Kevin Toland said Dublin Airport was delighted to welcome the Dreamliner aircraft and was pleased for Falcon, Thomson and Thomson Airways that it will enter service next summer, taking passengers from Ireland to Mexico and Jamaica.
Mr Toland added that the Dreamliner has created significant new opportunities for TUI’s brands in the Irish market. “Thomson’s decision to operate a Dreamliner from Dublin Airport brings additional choice into the market and we look forward to working with them to promote these new routes and to expand the company’s overall business at Dublin Airport.”
Chris Logan, Head of Ireland for Falcon and Thomson, said it was a special day to have the 787 Dreamliner touch down in Dublin only two years after Thomson Airways became the first UK airline to operate the revolutionary aircraft.
“It is even more special to have the aircraft flown in by Managing Director John Murphy with TUI Aviation’s Chief Operating Officer Chris Browne and Director of Engineering Jason Mahoney on board – all of Irish descent.”
He said Irish customers will be amazed at the unique look, feel and service of this fabulous new aircraft when the new routes begin next summer.
Falcon and Thomson will operate its new charter programme from Dublin with a Thomson Airways Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which includes Premium Club. The service to Montego Bay will begin on June 12, 2016, while the new Cancun service begins on June 13. Each route will operate weekly for six weeks.
Cancun, which is on the coast of the Yucatán peninsula, is one of Mexico’s leading tourist destinations and the gateway to the resorts of the Playa Car and Riviera Maya to the south. Montego Bay is Jamaica’s second largest city and is one of its premier tourist resorts, along with Negril and Ocho Rios.
The addition of Mexico and Jamaica means that Dublin Airport will have 20 long-haul destinations next summer, with 17 destinations in the Americas and the Caribbean, two destinations in the Middle East and one destination in Africa.
Dublin Airport, which is celebrating its 75th birthday this year, has flights to 167 destinations. It welcomed almost 22 million passengers in 2014, and has seen passenger numbers increase by 15% in the first five months of this year.
