Reports yesterday suggested Aer Lingus had pledged to renew their route to San Francisco after requests from major technology companies with offices in both Ireland and Silicon Valley, such as Facebook, Apple and Google. Speaking about the route, Barry O'Brien told the Irish Times "it is absolutely crucial. The western US is Ireland’s biggest trading market and we have no direct route to it".

However, website Airline Route has published screenshots that seem to confirm the new routes. Visitors to Aer Lingus' own website early this morning were briefly able to book tickets to San Francisco and Canada's largest city. Booking was available for around three hours before the routes were taken back down again.

Aer Lingus ran a dedicated San Francisco route until 2009. The four flights a week service was cancelled as a result of the economic downturn. The Toronto route will mark the airline's first dedicated Canadian service since the 1979.

Customers currently booking Candian or most west coast USA destinations through Aer Lingus have to finish their journey with another airline. Jetblue partner with Aer Lingus to cover most major Western US destinations.