RDU will offer direct flight to Dublin with airline Aer Lingus, coming in 2026

Raleigh travelers can board direct flights to Ireland beginning next year, Raleigh-Durham International Airport announced Wednesday.

Michael Landguth, president and CEO of the Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority, announced a new airline, Aer Lingus, launching flights from RDU beginning April 13.

Travelers will be able to fly non-stop to Dublin to connect to destinations including Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, Edinburgh, London, Paris, Rome and more, according to the airline.

The flights will operate from RDU five days a week, on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays, although fewer flights may be offered in the winter depending on sales, an Aer Lingus spokesperson said. 

The airline will charter UNC's football team to their game in Dublin against Texas Christian University (TCU) on Aug. 26 at the Aviva Stadium, officials said.

Earlier this year, RDU announced the airport will receive nearly $25 million in federal grants to realign John Brantley Boulevard in front of the airport's terminals. The project will also widen the road from two lanes to four.

An RDU spokesperson said road construction will start in fall of 2026 with a target competition date of sometime in 2030. The widening will cost a total of around $166 million.