Aer Lingus and Virgin Atlantic have announced a “wet lease” agreement under which the Irish flag carrier will operate a number of short haul routes on behalf of Virgin.
In a statement to the Irish Stock Exchange, Aer Lingus said the proposed agreement was for a three year period beginning at the end of March.
Aer Lingus is to provide four Airbus A320-200 aircraft to be used for services connecting London Heathrow, Manchester, Edinburgh and Aberdeen. The aircraft will fly in Virgin colours.
Wet leasing involves one airline providing another with aircraft, crew, all maintenance, hull and third party legal liability insurance.
Virgin Atlantic, owned by Sir Richard Branson's Virgin group and Singapore Airrways, today announced it was entering the British domestic market and would operate some involve 24 flights a day.
The new routes will create 130 flying jobs and 25 office jobs as well as other indirect jobs in both England and Scotland, with Virgin able to offer competition domestically to long-time rival British Airways.