United, Irish carrier announce code-sharing partnership
DUBLIN, Ireland -- Aer Lingus and United Airlines announced a code-sharing partnership Tuesday that will allow customers to book flights using each other's reservation networks.
The deal comes as more Irish head to the United States, rather than Europe, to exploit the exceptionally weak dollar. Weekend shopping trips to New York are particularly common.
United chief executive Glenn Tilton and Aer Lingus chief executive Dermot Mannion signed the agreement in Chicago, according to a joint statement. They said the partnership would take effect in September for flights on or after Nov. 1.
Industry analysts said the deal, which requires U.S. regulatory approval, will increase U.S. tourist and business traffic through Ireland at the expense of neighboring Britain, where increased security delays -- and chronic problems at Heathrow Airport in particular -- have made Europe-bound travelers seek a different hub.
United's senior vice president for alliances and regulatory affairs, Michael Whitaker, said the deal would give United customers more nonstop destinations across the Atlantic.
Aer Lingus said its trans-Atlantic services to seven U.S. cities would all begin carrying United codes, while members of either carrier's loyalty programs would be able to redeem their points with either airline.
The deal should help Aer Lingus fill empty seats on its expanding short-haul network to other parts of Europe. The Irish airline, which was privatized in September 2006, faces the toughest local competition in Europe in the form of cutthroat budget airline Ryanair.
Mannion said the deal would allow more Irish and other Europeans to reach United's more than 200 destinations without separate bookings.
Aer Lingus flies into four of United's U.S. hubs: Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington.
"We believe that this agreement will strengthen our position in the U.S. market as we capitalize on the scale and the strength of the United Airlines network," Mannion said in a statement.