Aer Lingus has confirmed that a limited transatlantic schedule will operate tomorrow, with flights from Dublin and Shannon to New York, Chicago, Baltimore and Washington.
However, a spokesman said that priority on the first westbound flights would be given to what he called "the many genuine compassionate cases". He said that the first eastbound flights would depart from the US on Saturday night to arrive in Ireland on Sunday morning.
A special Aer Lingus customer service support team, which has been handling compassionate requests for flights over recent days, is now contacting customers to confirm reservations.
The spokesperson stressed that customers who have not re-confirmed reservations on the special helplines or who have not been re-accommodated by the helplines and who arrive nonetheless at airports tomorrow may not be accommodated.
The first New York-bound flight tomorrow will leave Dublin airport at 1pm. For further information contact the Aer Lingus helpline: 1800 222221.
A number of flights by the US carrier, Delta, left Dublin and Shannon airports this afternoon to cities in the US, but all Aer Lingus and continental transatlantic flights were cancelled for the fourth day.
News yesterday that the United States authorities had re-opened their airports had given hope that international aviation transport could get on the move again, but access is limited. Aer Lingus is awaiting clarification of the new security measures and has cancelled its transatlantic services indefinitely.
A book of condolence has been opened at Shannon so that people working there as well as those travelling can sign as a mark of respect. Shannon Airport came to a standstill at 11am this morning in a moving tribute to those who lost their lives in New York and Washington, joining with thousands of people all over the country who were marking the tragedy with silence and prayer.
The first transatlantic flight to leave Britain for the US took off from Heathrow today. American Airlines flight 87, which was scheduled to leave at 10.05am, finally took off at 11.47am.
