INDIANAPOLIS — For the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Indianapolis International Airport will serve as a connector to Europe next year. Starting in May 2025, the Indianapolis airport will host a nonstop flight from Indianapolis to Dublin, Ireland on Aer Lingus. From Dublin, Hoosier travelers will be able to be connected with the rest of Europe. The flight will run four times a week, starting on May 3, 2025. https://twitter.com/HannahFollmanTV/status/1848351554857783658 According to a news release, the flight's service will be on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. The flight will operate on an Airbus A321XLR and offer dual-class seats, including 16 business class seats. “Reopening a much needed and frequently requested transatlantic route to our dear friends in Ireland will once again open new opportunities for business and leisure alike," Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb said in the news release. "It’s important that Indiana always keep investing in itself, by letting the world know we’re open for business and not even the sky’s the limit to our cultivated connections." Mario Rodriguez, the executive director of the Indianapolis Airport Authority, told FOX59/CBS4 that Indianapolis has "incredibly strong" economic ties with Ireland through several corporate partners, making this flight critical for both parties. "Some of these data points are really interesting because not a lot of people know that we export to Ireland over 750 million dollars worth of goods on an annual basis and even more impressive, we import 20.8 billion (from the country)," Rodriguez said. "It's about 25% of all the imports that come into the United States come in to Indiana. Its a really strong economic tie between Ireland and Indiana." Indianapolis airport reports record-breaking traffic in first half of 2024 Along with Hoosiers traveling abroad, Rodriguez said this will open the door for Europeans to come and visit Indianapolis, specifically for events like the Indy 500. Hoosiers will be able to clear customs in Dublin, giving them the opportunity to grab their bags and go when they get back to Indianapolis. "From Dublin over here, its really a domestic flight for all of us," Rodriguez said. "So you can get off the plane, walk through the concourse and go home. Rodriguez said the impact of this particular flight is "immense." "We had a flight into Europe before COVID, we lost it," he said. "It was the first time that this airport had ever been connected to Europe and now we’re re-establishing that... The beyond markets are everything from London to Paris to Madrid to Barcelona, Rome, you name it…Anywhere you want to get to in Europe, you can get to." The release said that an average of 545 people travel from the Indianapolis area to European destinations every day. Officials with the airport said that through this flight, the state's economy could be impacted by more than $50 million every year. “The addition of this direct international flight allows Indianapolis to further expand its presence in the global community,” Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett said in the release. “Whether it is for leisure or business, Indianapolis is ready and eager to welcome visitors from overseas to our city and hope they take advantage of all Indianapolis has to offer.” As part of the announcement, Holcomb's office said that Holcomb, along with First Lady Janet Holcomb, will travel to Dublin with Indiana Secretary of Commerce David Rosenberg to celebrate the direct flight. In Dublin, Holcomb will tour the Aer Lingus facility, as well as Eli Lilly and Company's manufacturing campus in Ireland. “Indiana and Ireland share strong ties across our cultures and history, trade and industry – a partnership that only continues to grow,” Holcomb said in the release. “This week, our delegation will work to foster those connections, discovering new opportunities to work together to advance the global life sciences ecosystem and create a more innovative, more prosperous future for our people across both regions.” For more information about the flight, and the Indianapolis airport, click here.