Rugby results in surge for Aer Lingus Regional traffic

Passenger numbers at Aer Lingus Regional rose by 13 per cent in February, reaching more than 82,000, the airline said today.

One of the largest increases was seen on the airline's Dublin routes, which were lifted by a 33 per cent increase in demand on the Cardiff route as Ireland took on Wales in the Six Nations championship.

To date, passenger numbers are up 17 per cent, and have grown for eight months in a row.

Commercial director at Stobart Air Simon Fagan said the company was happy with the increase in passenger figures, particularly given the adverse weather conditions both in Ireland and the UK during the month, and said strategic decisions had paid off for the firm.

“Stobart Air’s route expansion programme coupled with its investment in eight new aircraft have benefitted both passenger convenience and comfort,” he said.

The link with Aer Lingus had also benefitted the regional routes, he said, noting that the customs and immigration preclearance in Dublin for US routes was proving popular with travellers looking at Aer Lingus’s new Toronoto and San Francisco routes.

Aer Lingus Regional is operated by Stobart Air, formerly known as Aer Arann. The company announced a name change this week, but the rebranding will only apply to the company behind Aer Lingus Regional, with the airline retaining its link with Irish carrier.

Transport and logistics group Stobart took a majority stake in Aer Arann after its 2010 examinership. The renaming of the firm will be complete by the end of the year.