Aer Lingus chief executive Lynne Embleton has pushed back against recent US data suggesting a sharp decline in Irish travel to the United States, saying the airline is seeing steady demand and increased passenger numbers on its transatlantic routes.
Figures released by the US International Trade Administration indicated that travel by Irish residents to the US fell by 12% in the first three months of 2025 compared to the same period last year, with a 27% drop recorded in March alone. However, Embleton questioned the accuracy of those statistics.
“Our suspicion is there is something quirky in the stats,” she said. “Demand between Ireland and North America between January and March was really strong. We’re operating more routes and carrying more passengers.”
Her comments came as Aer Lingus reported a first-quarter operating loss of €55 million, an improvement on the €82 million loss in the same quarter of 2024. The airline attributed the smaller loss to increased capacity and lower fuel costs, noting that the first quarter is typically its weakest of the year.
Passenger capacity rose by 5.4% year-on-year, with a 4.5% increase on North American routes and a 7.1% rise on European routes. The airline carried over 2.1 million passengers in the first quarter, a 1.8% increase, while its load factor rose slightly to 75.3%.
Aer Lingus also marked the start of its largest-ever North American summer schedule, including new direct services from Dublin to Nashville and Indianapolis. Embleton confirmed that the first two of six new Airbus A321 XLR aircraft are already in service, operating the new US routes.
“These new aircraft and the remaining four XLRs due later this year will support a compelling growth ambition that benefits not only the airline but also customers, employees, and the wider economy,” she said.
Aer Lingus’s parent company, International Airlines Group (IAG), also reported stronger-than-expected first-quarter results, citing resilient demand despite global economic uncertainty. IAG announced an order for 53 long-haul aircraft, including 32 Boeing 787-10s for British Airways and 21 Airbus A330-900neos, which may be used by Aer Lingus, Iberia, or LEVEL.
Despite external pressures, Embleton said the airline is building momentum from 2024 and remains optimistic for continued growth across its core transatlantic and European markets.
