Continental Airlines has announced its plans to fly 8% more American passengers to Ireland this year than last.
United’s vice-president for transatlantic, the Middle East and India services, Charles Duncan, said Continental was surprised at the sustained level of demand for seats to Ireland from the US despite the tough economic conditions on both sides of the Atlantic.
"We are pleasantly surprised that demand across the Atlantic and specifically here in Ireland is as strong as it is given the economic climate," he said.
"We’re seeing few Irish visitors to the US and more Americans coming in. That’s a bit counter-intuitive, but frankly we don’t care. We’re selling from both ends, so as long as the sum total works.