INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The first nonstop Aer Lingus flight from Dublin, Ireland landed Saturday night, but the long-term impact is just starting to take off.

Indianapolis International Airport executives say the nonstop connection isn’t just about convenience, it’s all about creating jobs, attracting investment, and building a global bridge between Indiana and Ireland.

“What does it mean to the state? We reconnect back to Europe. A world-class state and a world-class city needs that kind of connection,” said Mario Rodriguez, executive director of the Indianapolis International Airport.

Indiana is home to 52 Ireland-based companies, and just this year, Eli Lilly and Company announced a $1.8 billion dollar investment in its two Irish facilities. Rodriguez says in 2024, over $30 billion came to the state in imported goods.

“One out of every 4 items that are exported to the United States come to Indiana,” Rodriguez said. “A lot of it is pharma, thank you to Eli Lilly and thank you everybody else in pharma, but it really is an economic driver and it’s an economic connection.”

But it’s not just Hoosiers who will gain from the connection. Irish officials say this new route also opens up new markets, makes travel easier, expands business opportunities, and will keep the Indiana and Irish relationship strong.

“That’s based on deep people-to-people links, and also booming economic connections,” said Pádraig Manning, vice consul at the Consulate General of Ireland in Chicago, Illinois. “So, we’re really looking forward to building on those links and exploring new connections too.”

Alison Metcalfe, executive vice president and head of North America at Tourism Ireland, says she’s excited about having more tourists learn more about what Dublin and other cities have to offer.

“They want great scenery, they want to enjoy our unique culture through music, literature and also through great food,” Metcalfe said. “They want to have fun. As we say in Ireland, I think we have a unique brand of hospitality.”

Bill Byrne, Senior VP of Global Sales at Aer Lingus, highlights that the under eight-hour flight will not only save time, but also help travelers save money, making it a smart choice for the average flyer. Flights are an average of $600-$800 round trip per person.

“What’s better than all of this is by having nonstop service, it’s going to be the most affordable flight you can take to Europe,” Byrne said. “It’ll be the fastest flight and probably the cheapest flight from Indianapolis to Europe that the citizens from Indianapolis can take advantage of.”

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