Plans are afoot for Aer Lingus to increase its long-haul fleet over the next half decade, creating 300 jobs in the process.
Stephen Kavanagh, CEO of Aer Lingus, has revealed that "there is the potential opportunity over the next five years to increase the fleet to 20".

International Consolidated Airlines Group (IAG), who purchased the airline last year for €1.6 billion, had previously pledged an extra five long-haul aircraft to Aer Lingus, which would have brought its total to 17.

It will have 14 long-haul planes by the end of the summer, doubling its 2010 number.

The move would be central to Aer Lingus' ambitions to increase its presence in the transatlantic market.

Kavanagh called on Dublin Airport to support the expansion with the necessary infrastructure in order to avoid bottlenecks.

Aer Lingus celebrated its 80th anniversary late last week. Its first flight from Baldonnel Aerodrome to Bristol took place on May 22nd, 1936.