New route opens for Scots travelling from Edinburgh to North Carolina
Passengers will be able to complete immigration checks in Dublin, saving hours of waiting at the US border.
Scots will now be able to travel from Edinburgh to the US state of North Carolina on a new route via Dublin.
Irish airline Aer Lingus has launched its inaugural flight from Dublin to the Tar Heel State, with flights to run up to five times a week.
The new route will offer a connection through Ireland for those from ten UK airports, including Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Passengers will also be able to use Dublin’s pre-clearance facility, meaning all immigration checks are completed in Ireland, potentially saving hours of waiting in queues upon arrival in the US.
The Irish carrier said the route will connect Ireland to North Carolina’s “research triangle” which is home to hundreds of tech and biotech companies.
It will also help facilitate the thousands of US fans who descend on Dublin every year for the Aer Lingus College Football Classic - one of the city’s major tourism events.
As well as the UK, the new service also connects the North Carolina airport to destinations across Europe, including Paris, Rome, Amsterdam, and Madrid.
Lynne Embleton, CEO of Aer Lingus, said: “Our new route creates a direct connection between Ireland and the Raleigh-Durham region for the first time, making it even easier for customers to travel to Dublin and onwards to destinations across the UK and Europe.
“The Raleigh-Durham region is a hub for technology, innovation and research, and this additional connectivity to that region will allow the business and educational ties on both sides of the Atlantic to flourish.
“Launching ahead of the 2026 Aer Lingus College Football Classic makes this service especially timely, and we’re really looking forward to welcoming UNC fans to Ireland this August as the Tar Heels take to the field at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.”