Irish carrier Aer Lingus launches Nonstop service from RDU to Dublin

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- The first nonstop flight between Raleigh-Durham International Airport and Dublin marks the latest nonstop international connection for the Triangle.

Irish carrier Aer Lingus is launching the nonstop service between RDU and Ireland's capital, adding to a growing list of international destinations available from RDU.

Business leaders say the new route could help attract international investment and strengthen overseas partnerships.

Currently, RDU offers nonstop service to Paris, London, Iceland and Frankfurt. Those routes have proven successful in recent years through both tourism and business travel. With the addition of Dublin, the region will be directly connected to a country with a growing technology sector, which local leaders say could bring more investment and economic growth.

"They've got something like over 1700 multinational oil companies located there. They've got one of the lowest corporate tax rates. And so a lot of companies choose to be in Ireland," said Ryan Combs, executive director of the Research Triangle Regional Partnership. "We think this is great for North Carolina companies that want to get a footprint in Europe, but it's also great for us in order to be able to attract Irish companies to North Carolina."

Combs also said increased passenger traffic at RDU in recent years has made the region more attractive for airline investment. He's hopeful the new route provides another opportunity to find new partnerships.

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"And so having direct access to a market, that's one of the most important things. We continue to work to build relationships and drive investment from Ireland to North Carolina. And so having a flight like the Air Lingus flight is going to open a lot of doors for us with that direct connectivity," Combs said.

The first Aer Lingus flight is scheduled to arrive at RDU's Terminal 2 around 6:30 pm Monday, with a return to Dublin at 8:25 pm.