Nonstop flights to Europe return to Indianapolis International Airport

Direct flights to Europe are returning to Indianapolis.

The Indianapolis Airport Authority announced this week that starting in May it will offer nonstop service between Indianapolis and Dublin, Ireland. The Irish airline Aer Lingus will handle the flights.

This isn’t the first time Indy has had a nonstop flight to Europe. In 2018 the Indianapolis airport began offering direct flights to Paris. The flights were shuttered in 2020 during the pandemic. This is the first time the city has had direct service to Europe since then.

Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb joined Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett and Indiana Secretary of Commerce David Rosenberg via video from across the pond to celebrate the announcement.

“Reopening a much needed and frequently requested transatlantic route to our dear friends in Ireland will once again open new opportunities for business and leisure alike,” Holcomb said. “It’s important that Indiana always keep investing in itself, by letting the world know we’re open for business, and not even the sky’s the limit to our cultivated connections.”

Mario Rodriguez, executive director of the Indianapolis International Airport, said this flight is a much bigger deal than the Paris flight from an economic standpoint. He said that's because Indiana imports over $20 billion in goods from Ireland each year.

Indianapolis-based pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly also recently invested $1.8 billion into two of its facilities in Ireland. Rodirguez said the new flight gives residents a chance to experience Europe.

“They’re gonna be delighted. It is a wonderful, wonderful country. The flight will be fantastic, you’ll land in Dublin. For tourism, Ireland is spectacular,” Rodirguez said.

The first flight will be on May 3, 2025. Flights will leave Indy for Dublin four times per week after that, on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

The Dublin airport has connecting flights to 20 other airports around Europe.