Dancers and musicians playing Irish tunes helped Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport celebrate the return of direct flights to Dublin on Monday afternoon.

Aer Lingus, the flag carrier of Ireland, paused its nonstop service from the Twin Cities to Dublin in March 2020 when the pandemic struck. The airline had only begun the service in July 2019.

An Airbus A330 will fly between MSP and Dublin four days a week — Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. On Monday evening, Aer Lingus welcomed its first arriving flight from Dublin to the Twin Cities and its first departing flight to Dublin.

Travelers from Dublin were greeted by water streams from airport fire trucks as the jet pulled up to the gate. Pilots on the aircraft opened their windows and thrust out an American flag and an Irish flag as the plane came to a stop.

As they disembarked, passengers from Ireland were greeted by acoustic music, Irish dancers, free sunglasses and treats as part of the celebration.

Erin Hogan and her husband and two sons smiled at the fanfare as they walked off the plane.

“This is amazing,” one of her sons said, plucking a cupcake off a nearby table.

“This is so cool,” Hogan said. Her family was on the way to visit relatives in Nebraska. They had been thrilled to find that a direct flight had been available but hadn’t realized they’d be on the first one since the pandemic until they showed up at the airport in Dublin. There was a celebration there, as well, she said. Pictures were taken, cupcakes were offered and passengers were given Mall of America tote bags filled with airport-themed gifts and candy.

The Aer Lingus service marked the return of the last international flight that had been suspended due to the pandemic, said Brian J. Peters, director of air service development for the Metropolitan Airports Commission.

“It marks a complete recovery from the pandemic as far as international service is concerned,” he said.

Alison Metcalfe, executive vice president of USA & Canada Tourism Ireland, said the return of the direct flight was “incredibly significant,” noting that 10% of Minnesotans claim Irish ancestry.

“Nothing beats a direct flight,” she said, “particularly when you’re coming from Ireland, which is an island.”

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