Aer Lingus launch direct MAD-IAD flight in April 2010...

teresasaunt

...in codeshare with United. Metal and crew will be provided by EI.

DUBLIN, Ireland (AP) — United Airlines and Ireland's Aer Lingus unveiled an agreement Thursday to operate a new joint trans-Atlantic service between Washington, DC and Spain as part of their recent code-sharing deal.

The two airlines said they would launch a shared Washington Dulles-Madrid service beginning in April 2010 and were mulling other possible joint ventures to exploit the year-old "open skies" pact between U.S. and EU aviation authorities.

Since November the two airlines' code-sharing has allowed customers to make linked-up journeys on a single booking within United's American and Aer Lingus' European route networks. Until now, however, the partners had not cooperated in forging any new routes under open skies, which allows airlines to fly from outside their home countries.

More: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5izAiCoKFJOmmnScTf6cA125vFwPgD95S9F1O0

Plane is to branded EI on the exterior, and EI and UA on the interior.

FlutterinBantam

RTE (interview with DM) adds: The airlines expect the new partnership to
report a 'marginal'
level of profit in the first year. In the second year Aer Lingus will
provide three aircraft. (total) from its existing orders At the end of the
second year, all going well, the partnership will develop into a joint
venture. Initially, the Aer Lingus aircraft will be leased to the
partnership with the Aer Lingus logo [colour schemes] on the outside with
joint branding inside. They will be based in the US with flight and cabin
crew recruited there for Aer Lingus. it will initially be incremental and
will serve new routes, not duplicating the Irish operation. When the time
is right ,Aer Lingus will want long-haul growth in the Irish market again.

Hmmmm interesting.

oztots

In honesty i think this is silly, i mean United are in massive debt. And aerlingus is supplying nearly the whole lot.

Aerlingus should try and find a stable partner whos isnt going to dissapear into a hole of bankruptcy anytime soon.