By Ray O'Hanlon
It's not quite a home of their own, but it's close.
And if you are flying to Ireland with Aer Lingus out of JFK tonight do not go to Terminal 4. Terminal 5 would be the better bet by far.
Aer Lingus recently signed a code-share agreement with JetBlue Airways and the deal means that Aer Lingus Ireland-bound passengers will be using the "T5" JetBlue terminal at Kennedy airport.
The agreement also covers connecting east coast flights to and from JFK airport and Boston's Logan International Airport.
The new partnership sees Aer Lingus moving out of Kennedy's crowded Terminal 4 and into Jet Blue's Terminal 5 with a starting up date for the new partnership from today, April 3.
Aer Lingus customers connecting to one of JetBlue's destinations across the U.S. will benefit from same terminal connections, one-stop ticketing and baggage check-in for travel on both airlines, from the U.S. to Europe, according to an Aer Lingus release.
The two airlines have been "interline" partners since 2008 with connections to over 40 destinations in the U.S.
From the end of March, Aer Lingus has been offering double daily flights between Dublin and New York, and Dublin and Boston. Flights from Shannon to New York will operate three times weekly, with four weekly departures to Boston, all connecting with JetBlue.
The new code-share agreement means the two airlines will now market and sell each other's flights as if they were their own.
Aer Lingus has recently been increasing its transatlantic services. The carrier is using an additional aircraft that had been in use by the now defunct service it operated in conjunction with United Airlines between Washington and Madrid.
From March, Aer Lingus has been flying twice a day between Dublin and New York and Dublin to Boston. It will also be operating three flights a week from Shannon to New York, as well as four to Boston.
Available seats to Ireland over the summer months - the peak period for The Gathering 2013 - are not just being increased by Aer Lingus, but also by American Airlines, Delta and United, this according to Tourism Ireland chief, Niall Gibbons.
