Aer Lingus Regional

The possibility of such a partnership was first announced on 6 January 2010, when Aer Lingus hinted to the media that it was interested in expanding its UK services with the help of the then Aer Arann. It was also marked as solely a Cork expansion with no mention of Dublin, with Aer Lingus saying bulk seats would be bought on Aer Arann planes without an actual financial take-over.[3]

On 26 January 2010, it was confirmed that both Aer Lingus and Aer Arann would launch a new franchise agreement. On that same date, new routes from Dublin to Doncaster-Sheffield and Durham Tees Valley were announced by Aer Lingus Regional, in addition to a new route from Cork to Glasgow.[4] It was also decided that previous Aer Arann routes to Cork would all be transferred to Aer Lingus Regional. Aer Arann services to Blackpool and Cardiff from Dublin would be transferred to Aer Lingus Regional also.

Though Aer Arann and Aer Lingus co-founded Aer Lingus Regional, Aer Arann operate all flights and will manage those flights with Aer Arann flight crew on board. All aircraft are painted in Aer Lingus Regional livery, and both airlines anticipate new routes being announced as the new subsidiary between the two airlines grows.[5]

On 14 March 2012, Aer Arann confirmed it would streamline all of its own branded services into Aer Lingus Regional from 25 March 2012. Routes that transferred to Aer Lingus Regional included, Dublin to the Isle of Man and Kerry, Waterford to London-Luton, London-Southend and Manchester.[6] The airline has since suspended all services from Waterford.[7] On 11 July 2012, Aer Arann announced that it intended to purchase 8 ATR 72-600 aircraft to help replace and expand its operations. The first of these aircraft were delivered in late April 2013.

On 20 March 2014, Aer Arann announced its intention to re-brand and form Stobart Air to allow the company to seek further franchise agreements. There was no change to the operation of Aer Lingus Regional services.[8] On 27 November 2014, Stobart Air was awarded PSO contracts between Dublin-Donegal from 1 February 2015. The existing Dublin-Kerry route was also extended to 2017. On the same date, all services to/from Shannon were confirmed to be axed from 5 January 2015, the base closed on the same date.[9][10] The airline has since resumed services to/from Shannon.[11]

In January 2018, Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, TD Shane Ross announced Stobart Air will continue its two PSO routes Dublin to Donegal and Kerry until January 2022. [12] That year saw the airline adding an additional 70,000 seats during it winter season, flying 580 flights a week. [13]

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic all international flights were first reduced to a limited schedule and then temporarily suspended from the 28th of March until further notice. The two domestic PSO flights will continue to maintain a vital link. [14] Due to the lack of flights, Stobart Air which employs 400, people had to temporally lay-off most of its employees. Only 16% of Stobart Airs workforce will be retained to operate the domestic Irish routes. [15]

When he was announcing the end of first quarter results for IAG, Chief Executive Willie Walsh revealed that a different provider may operate the routes once the Stobart Air contract expires at the end of 2022.[16]

Aer Lingus Group together with Stobart Air announced on 23 July 2020, it was to establish a base at Belfast–City Airport with 6 new routes to Birmingham, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Exeter, Leeds/Bradford and Manchester with 5 based ATR72-600 aircraft and over 200 weekly flights planned to operate.[17] The news was welcomed by Airport and Government officials in what was described as "an extremely challenging environment" during the Coronavirus pandemic.[18]

Following a competitive tender process, It was announced that Stobart Air had not been successful in retaining the Aer Lingus Regional Franchise. From January 2023 a new operator will take over with Emerald Airlines as the preferred option. [19]