Aer Lingus is to create 200 new jobs as it expands its transatlantic route.

The carrier is to fly three new routes from Dublin to North America in 2016 - Dublin to Los Angeles, Dublin to Newark, New Jersey and Dublin to Hartford, Connecticut.

The service will begin flying between Dublin and Los Angeles from May 2016 five times a week.

Flights to Newark will start in early September and the Hartford, Connecticut service will operate from September.

Aer Lingus say the new routes will bring its number of transatlantic routes from 9 to 12 - increasing transatlantic seat capacity to over two million seats for the first time ever.

The new routes will also connect a range of UK and European cities.

Stephen Kavanagh, chief executive of Aer Lingus, said: "The introduction of these three routes will open up new tourism and business opportunities with improved connectivity through our Dublin Gateway. We look forward to welcoming guests on board our new services in 2016".

While Willie Walsh, chief executive of Aer Lingus' parent company IAG, added: "Ireland’s geographic location and US immigration pre-clearance provides IAG with the natural gateway to build our business between Europe and North America through Aer Lingus".

"This is the first step in our plans to add North American destinations, bring new aircraft into the fleet, increase passenger numbers and create new jobs".

The director of communications with Aer Lingus, Declan Kearney, told Newstalk Lunchtime about the kind of positions which will be on offer.