In the carrier’s latest bid to pitch itself to US travelers, Dublin-based 
Aer Lingus
has signed a new agreement with the Pittsburgh Steelers. This new deal, sparked by an upcoming National Football League (NFL) game hosted in Ireland, will position Aer Lingus as the official airline of the sports team and give the carrier local support for its direct service from Pittsburgh International Airport
.
This announcement comes as the carrier launches a busy transatlantic schedule from its home nation. In summer 2025, Aer Lingus will operate 24 transatlantic routes from destinations like Dublin and Shannon in Ireland and even Manchester, United Kingdom. Its services to North America include popular destinations like New York, Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Miami. The airline operates a mix of widebody and narrowbody aircraft, all of which are manufactured by Airbus.
Aer Lingus and the Steelers team up
Aer Lingus’ partnership with the Steelers will be long. The deal will last for four years, during which Aer Lingus will be considered the official airline of the Pittsburgh Steelers. While a variety of factors make this agreement a positive and potentially lucrative one for the carrier, one of the catalysts for the collaboration is an upcoming game that will take place in Ireland.
Photo: frank333 | Shutterstock
Later this year, the Pittsburgh Steelers will travel to Ireland to play a regular season game. Aer Lingus clearly hopes to capture the demand spike for air service between western Pennsylvania and Ireland before and after the game. The carrier seems to be positioning itself as the natural choice for Steelers loyalists through other programs and initiatives beyond its new airline partner status.
Aer Lingus will be the presenting partner of Steelers Ireland 2025. The game it is sponsoring will be held at Croke Park, a massive stadium located in Dublin. Additionally, the carrier is a founding partner of Steelers Ireland and the Official Airline Partner of Steelers Ireland. Clearly, Aer Lingus is working hard to align itself with the American football team.
Photo: Croatorum | Shutterstock
Some elements of this announcement also involve outreach. The carrier will co-present the Steelers’ Ireland Youth Football Development Program, which aims to grow the sport at a local level. While a European carrier getting so heavily involved with an American football team may not seem like a natural choice at first, the Pittsburgh Steelers have a history mixed with Irish heritage, making it a very likely target for a partnership with Aer Lingus.
Art Rooney, the founder of the Steelers, had Irish heritage that dated back to the 1840s. Founding the team in 1933, the group still has strong ties to Irish culture, and has become among the most accomplished teams in NFL history. The team boasts six Super Bowl wins and eight victories in the American Football Conference (AFC) championships.
Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying
This partnership is an exciting one for both Pittsburgh residents and the airline. Susanne Carberry, Aer Lingus’ Chief Customer Officer, explained:
“The Pittsburgh Steelers are a cornerstone of American football, and Aer Lingus is proud to commence an exciting new partnership that bridges both sides of the Atlantic. This collaboration strengthens Aer Lingus’ position as a dedicated supporter of American football in Ireland, Europe, and beyond…”
Aer Lingus continues to expand westward
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The Irish carrier hopes to receive all six A321XLRs by the end of 2025.
This sponsorship comes as Aer Lingus continues to add more North American destinations to its network. Last year, the carrier started seasonal service to Denver International Airport and resumed service to Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport. This year, the carrier will add two new destinations to its US network: Indianapolis and Nashville. Both routes will be flown by Aer Lingus’ A321 XLR aircraft.
Photo: Aer Lingus
While other major sports partnerships are unlikely, Aer Lingus seems committed to earning a loyal customer base in the United States. Though smaller than many of its rivals that offer transatlantic flights, the carrier continues to connect passengers from North America to destinations across Europe through its Dublin hub.
