April/May 2025
www.nitravelnews.com
CONTENTS | 3
USA AND CANADA CONNECTION GOING FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH...
... continued from Pg. 1...
...with significant traffic to both the United States and Canada. Dublin Airport offers an extensive
Page 18-25: From Bilbao to
Madrid, explore more of Spain Page 34-35:
Andrea McVeigh jets off to Minneapolis
Page 36-37: Erin English explores some of Nashvilles amazing attractions
Page 54-55: Jonathan Adiar was onboard NCL Aqua
array of direct flights to major U.S. cities, catering to the increasing demand for travel between Ireland and North America. Some of the prominent American destinations with direct connections include: New York City (JFK and Newark), Chicago, Boston, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Washington D.C. In 2025, Dublin Airport has also introduced new routes to destinations like Nashville and Indianapolis, catering to emerging markets and providing Irish and Northern Irish travellers with even more options. Aer Lingus launched direct flights to Nashville in April 2025 and plans to begin Indianapolis flights in May 2025. The Nashville route commenced on
April 12, 2025, with four weekly flights on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. The Indianapolis route began on May 3, 2025, also with four weekly flights on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Additionally, United Airlines expanded its operations by doubling
the
number of daily flights between Dublin
and
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Washington D.C., increasing from one to two daily
services
starting March 29, 2025. The airline also upgraded its Dublin to Chicago O’Hare route by introducing the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, replacing the previous Boeing 757-200. These developments underscore Dublin Airport’s growing role as a key hub for transatlantic travel, offering passengers more options and enhanced connectivity to various US destinations. In 2024, Dublin Airport experienced significant passenger traffic, with a total of 33.3 million passengers passing through its terminals, marking a 4% increase from 2023. The Central Statistics Office (CSO) reports that, in the third quarter of 2024, the United States was the most popular destination outside of Europe for passengers traveling through Irish airports. This suggests that a significant portion of Dublin Airport’s traffic was USA-bound. While precise numbers for USA-bound passengers in 2025 aren’t available, the trends from 2024 and ongoing discussions about airport capacity suggest a positive
trajectory for transatlantic travel through Dublin Airport. Despite capacity constraints due to a 32 million passenger cap, Dublin Airport’s operator, daa, projected handling up to 35 million passengers in 2025. This projection suggests an optimistic outlook for passenger traffic, including those traveling to the USA. The growing appeal of these direct routes has been fuelled by a steady increase in passenger numbers from Northern Ireland. According to a recent survey conducted by Tourism Ireland, there was a 12% increase in the number of Northern Irish travellers visiting the US in the past year. This surge is partly due to the ease
of access provided by Dublin Airport, which is conveniently located
just a short drive from the Northern Ireland border, and offers an attractive alternative to flying from Belfast. Furthermore, Dublin Airport
is one of only a few airports outside North America that offers a US Pre-clearance facility. The benefit is that having cleared USCBP, passengers arriving in the US are treated as domestic arrivals, allowing them to avoid immigration queues upon arrival and pick up their bags and go. Direct Canadian Routes from Dublin Airport In addition to U.S. routes, Dublin Airport also serves as a gateway to several Canadian cities, reflecting the growing
importance of transatlantic travel to North America’s northern neighbour. Some of the key destinations include: 1. Toronto: Toronto Pearson International Airport remains
British Passport Application Fees to Increase Yet Again
BRITISH holidaymarkers are set to experience yet another passport increase fee, with confirmation of increased fees coming in from 10 April 2025.
UK ministers have agreed a 7% hike in fees, matching the previous years 7% increase, meaning British passport holders and new applications will face yet again higher costs during a current cost of living crisis for holidaying.
The increase will see online adult applications go from £88.50 to £94.50 for adults and £57.50 to £61.50 for children.
Postal applications will also increase from £100 to £107 for adults and £69 to £74 for children The fee for a Premium Service application made for within in the UK will rise from £207.50 to £222 for adults and £176.50 to £189 for
children, which enables a 1-day application time scale.
The fee for a standard online application when applying from overseas for a UK passport will rise from £101 to £108 for adults and £65.50 to £70 for children.
Overseas standard paper applications will also increase from £112.50 to £120.50 for adults and £77 to £82.50 for children.
one of the most popular Canadian routes, served by Air Canada, Aer Lingus, and others. The connection to this cosmopolitan city with a significant Irish diaspora continues to grow in importance. 2. Vancouver: Aer Lingus operates seasonal flights to Vancouver, making this route particularly appealing for travellers seeking access to the Canadian West Coast’s natural beauty and thriving tech industry. 3. Montreal: Direct flights to Montreal, operated by Air Canada, are a significant draw for those with cultural, academic, and professional ties to the region. 4. Ottawa: Aer Lingus and Air Canada
also serve the Canadian capital, Ottawa, providing a less crowded but highly popular destination. Dublin
Airport’s
growing roster of direct routes to the U.S. and Canada reflects the increasing demand for transatlantic travel from Ireland, particularly Northern Ireland. With significant cultural,
professional,
familial, and
economic ties between these regions, the demand
for flights to major U.S. and Canadian cities is expected to remain strong for the foreseeable future. As Dublin Airport continues to expand its international connections, travellers from Northern Ireland will have even more options to explore the vast opportunities that await across the Atlantic.
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