Irish national airline Aer Lingus has announced that it is adding more capacity on its summer 2020 transatlantic routes to North America, but is canceling plans to fly to Montreal, Canada. Irelands only four-star airline said that it is going to increase the number of daily flights from the Emerald Isle to the United States, a move that will produce its largest ever capacity to North America.

While announcing an increase in frequencies, the IAG owned airline told aviation website Business Traveller that it was dropping its previously announced Dublin to Montreal route.

Aer Lingus is postponing its new Montreal flights

The decision to cancel flights to the city in Quebec was brought about by the delayed delivery of its A321LR aircraft from Airbus.

Initially, the Dublin to Montreal flights were supposed to start in the summer of 2019 but got pushed back until the summer of 2020. Customers may now have to wait until 2021 for service to start.

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Or perhaps even this one? Photo: Aer LIngus

In a statement published by Business Traveller the airline said:

“Aer Lingus will not be commencing its Dublin-Montreal service as previously announced.

“The later than expected delivery in 2019 of our A321LR aircraft meant that the opportunity to commence operation of the Montreal service in time for the summer season did not materialize.

“Following a review, we have decided to focus our 2020 growth plans on expanding the depth of our transatlantic schedule on existing destinations.

“Montreal will remain on our shortlisted future network plan, but we do not expect to commence service on the route in the short term.”

Orlando, Miami and Seattle to get more flights from Dublin

The popular Dublin Airport (DUB) to Orlando International Airport (MCO) flight will increase from the current four flights per week to six for summer 2020. Aer Lingus’ other Florida destination, Miami will see an increase of one weekly flight up from two to three.

Flights to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) will increase from five flights per week to a daily service starting next summer.

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Aer Lingus is to offer flights to Paris and Barcelona from Shannon. Photo: Aer Lingus

Aer Lingus is awaiting the arrival of the first of 14 single-aisle Airbus A321LRs. It will continue to operate Airbus A330s and Boeing 757s on flights to Minneapolis St Paul, Los Angeles and Washington D.C. Once the new fuel-efficient long-range A321LRs arrive, the airlines four older Boeing 757s will be phased out of service.

Due to the delay of the new Airbus aircraft, Aer Lingus had to cancel its plans for Montreal and scale back on flights from the Irish capital Dublin to Connecticut, Philadelphia and its new service to Minnesota’s Minneapolis St Paul International Airport (MSP).

Aer Lingus will be the first airline to offer direct Ireland to Sardinia flights

On top of the increased summer flights to America, Aer Lingus has added new flights to Italy, launching routes from Dublin to Alghero in Sardinia and Brindisi in Puglia. These new destinations now see the Irish carrier operating 11 non-stop flights to Italy.

The only direct flight from Ireland to the Italian island of Sardinia will commence on May 24th, 2020 using an Airbus A320 aircraft.

Aer Lingus also has plans to offer flights from Shannon Airport (SNN) in the west of the country to Barcelona and Paris.