Dnata appointed Aer Lingus GSA in GCC countries

The airline's GSA agreement with Dnata for passenger sales representation covers the U.A.E, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

Aer Lingus operates three flights a week from to Dublin to Dubai, with an Airbus A330-200 offering Business and Economy Class. It expects to carry more than 70,000 passengers on the route in its first year, and has plans to increase the service to daily frequency.

Iain Andrew, Senior Vice President, Dnata Agencies, said: "We are delighted that our experience and expertise in the GCC countries will support Aer Lingus in developing its business on this route, and its presence in the region."

Cindy Cattigan, Manager Middle East and Offline Sales, Aer Lingus, said:

"This new route is an exciting and significant development for Aer Lingus, as Dubai is our first long-haul destination outside the U.S."

She added: "Although this is a new Aer Lingus service, our long-standing partnership with Dnata has already enabled us achieve a strong position in the marketplace which gives us considerable confidence for future growth and development."

Aer Lingus, a member of the One World airline alliance, offers onward connections from Dublin to destinations in the U.S. and Europe. To facilitate prospective travellers with visa requirements, a visa issuing facility has opened in the Enterprise Ireland office at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Dubai.

Dnata is GSA to more than 30 airlines in Dubai and the northern emirates, acting as the essential link between its airline partners and local travel agents and providing more than 40 years of experience to profitably promote and sell their services in a highly competitive and dynamic market.

Dnata is an established travel industry innovator and market leader in the Middle East, with an extensive network of partnerships providing tailor-made solutions to meet the travel demands of its customers. Dnata has expanded operations to Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, and plans to establish more regional outlets.