United Airlines will shortly announce a new flight between Dublin and Washington starting on May 22nd in 2012.

The news is a major boost for Irish tourism from the US and reopens the nation’s capital to flights to and from ireland.

The flights will depart from Dulles Airport, not Reagan International according to reports.

The aircraft will hold 180 passengers and will have a premium economy section of fifty seats, the first airline flying to Ireland to offer the in-between category between economy and first class.

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Eoghan Corry, editor of Travel Extra, broke the story on Morning Ireland radio program that United, who have not previously flown to Ireland will be the new airline.

United have recently merged with Continental Airlines which already have flights to Ireland from Newark.

The United news came on a day when there was bad news about Galway Airport where Aer Aran have pulled all their flgihts.

The local airport may now have to effectively become just a private airport with no scheduled services.
The new and improved motorway  between Galway and Dublin is seen as a major factor.