Aer Lingus Touches Down in Pittsburgh

At 6:40 p.m. on Monday, May 25, Aer Lingus’ first scheduled nonstop flight from Dublin to Pittsburgh touched down under sunny afternoon skies.

Under the callsign “Shamrock,” Aer Lingus flight #81 rolled out from Runway 28L and taxied to its gate. As a large crowd of airport officials, dignitaries and media watched the flight pull in, Aer Lingus pilots signaled their Pittsburgh arrival, first waving U.S. and Ireland flags and then Terrible Towels out the cockpit windows as the aircraft came to a full stop.

It only marked the beginning of the huge welcome for the region’s first ever nonstop service to the Emerald Isle.

Inside the terminal at the gate was a huge Irish themed gate event organized by the airport. PIT staff, Aer Lingus representatives and Pittsburgh Steelers alumni Charlie Batch and Arthur Moats handed out special giveaway items to passengers. Live Irish music from local band The Low Kings entertained the crowd and dancers from the Shovlin Academy performed traditional Irish dance while also making special appearances were the mascots of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Pitt Panthers.

PIT officials and Aer Lingus flight crews operating the inaugural departure also gathered for a ribbon cutting ceremony commemorating the new route, as customary with all new flight launches at the airport. Read the entire story here!