A management delegation representing Pittsburgh International Airport is in Ireland to push for a direct air route to the city from Dublin.
The airport is, according to a report in the Irish Independent, meeting with Aer Lingus about the matter and is apparently open to providing significant financial support for such a development.
“What we have told Aer Lingus as well as every other airline that we’ve spoken to, is that we expect that once a non-stop service is put in… you’ll see that that local market will more than double within one to two years,” Pittsburgh International Airport chief executive Christina Cassotis, told the Irish Independent’s John Mulligan.
The only direct route currently linking Europe to Pittsburgh is operated out of London Heathrow by British Airways, which – in IAG – shares the same parent as Aer Lingus.
The Pittsburgh region, in general, is on something of a charm offensive with Ireland. The area has one of the highest and oldest levels of Irish ancestry in the US; easily rivalling more famous Irish-American areas like New York, Boston and Chicago.
Just last month, the Pittsburgh Steelers were in town lobbying for a regular season NFL (American Football) game to be played in Dublin, as part of its own efforts to boost its presence in Ireland.
