The Spanish Tourist Board, along with representatives from Andalucia and Seville, hosted an event in conjunction with Aer Lingus in Little Lemon in Dublin. A strong turnout from the Irish travel trade and media celebrated the return of the Aer Lingus direct service (3x per week) from Dublin to Seville, which will recommence on 17 September 2025 and continue until mid-May next year.
Andalucia is the southernmost region of Europe, where two seas and two continents converge. Along her coastline, the Mediterranean Sea meets the Atlantic Ocean. The region is home to Málaga, Seville, Granada, Cádiz and Huelva & many more Spanish cities, towns and villages. Ever popular with Irish tourists, the 300 days of sunshine attract the Irish, along with the remarkable people, landscape, cuisine and culture. Andalucia offers so much more than a mere sun holiday. It is an opportunity to embrace the Spanish energy and zest for living.
Antonio Martín-Machuca – Head of Cooperation, Andalucia Tourism Board
Antonio Martín-Machuca (Head of Cooperation, Andalucia Tourism Board) spoke of his love of Ireland and how he could have been Irish in a former life. Originally from Seville, the return of this flight is particularly special for him. He highlighted that Andalucia is almost the size of Portugal. He spoke of how headline numbers were less important to him than a better quality tourist.
He spoke, “Here I am. Speaking from the heart. Happy and excited about this new project. And confident that this new Aer Lingus route will be successful. The ITAA conference has already been to all our cities and provinces. It’s almost all. There’s still one left, and I promised, we will complete the circle in the near future.”
“Being here with friends, with people who truly understand the value of a strong connection between countries, is a gift. I feel at home in Dublin, in Ireland. This household has been my favourite market, maybe in another life I was Irish. And today, for a moment, I feel I am.”
He thanked Jenny Rafter and her team at Aer Lingus as well as Laura, Kathryn and Sara from the Spanish Tourist Board for their support and effort. Guests then shared a meal of Spanish Tapas – a perfect way to encapsulate the Spanish friendliness, foodiness and fondness the Irish have for Spain.
Laura Pena – Director of the Spanish Tourist Board, Dublin
Laura Pena (Director of the Spanish Tourist Board, Dublin) highlighted that this route offers “the opportunity to discover many small cities, small villages, natural spaces, rural spaces. And, we are sure that in the end, the Irish tourists will surrender to the Andalucian charm”.
Aer Lingus Flights to Seville & Malaga
Aer Lingus returns to Seville from 17 September, with the route operating 3 times per week until mid-May. Aer Lingus continues to operate a year-round service to Malaga. The airline has up to 4 flights per day from Dublin to Malaga during the summer and 2 per day in the winter season. From Cork, Aer Lingus operates up to a daily summer service and three flights per week during the winter.
Jenny Rafter – Head of Global Leisure Sales, Aer Lingus
Jenny Rafter highlighted that Spain is the number one leisure destination for the Irish market. The winter route to Seville was hugely successful, and the demand is there for it to return with greater capacity.
She shared with ITTN, “Aer Lingus was really delighted to partner with Antonio Martin-Machuca (Andalucia Tourism Board) to be here at Little Lemon tonight to give the Irish travel trade a Taste of Spain. Tonight, at this Tapas restaurant, we’re here to celebrate the fact that we will be flying direct from Dublin to Seville next winter. This follows a very successful first year of the service. The route will start back on 17 September and operate through to the middle of May. This is an ideal winter sun destination and a stunning city break. Thank you to everyone for their support.”
Seville, Andalucia
The city of Seville is in the heart of the Andalucia region, in southern Spain. It is just over an hour from Cadiz, the nearest port and the stepping stone for many cruise passengers. Seville is a city brimming with culture, museums, breathtaking architecture, festivals and flamenco dancing.
Cathedrals, Courtyards & Palaces
Seville offers stunning architecture and culture with the Giralda tower, the Cathedral and the Real Alcázar of Seville all located next to one another.
The Cathedral of Seville, or “Catedral de Santa María de la Sede“, is the largest church in the world, after St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome and St. Paul’s Cathedral in London. It boasts being the largest Gothic temple in Europe. Here, travellers can find La Giralda tower, dating back to the thirteenth century and previously a minaret of a mosque that predates the cathedral. Also dating back to the 1200s and Moorish times, is the Padio de los Naranjos (The Orange Court).
This cathedral is home to the tomb of Christopher Columbus. It has paintings by Goya, Murillo and more, as well as the Royal Chapel dedicated to King Ferdinand III of Castile.
Real Alcázar – The Royal Palace of Seville
A visit to the Real Alcázar, the Royal Palace of Seville, offers spectacular architecture, fascinating rooms reflecting the city’s history, as well as beautiful gardens and courtyards. This palace is the oldest active royal palace in Europe. Since its origin sare linked to the Umayyad dynasty, the Arab kings of Al-Andalus who ruled Seville in the early Middle Ages, it has been a royal residence. The Persian Sheikh Saadi, one of the main Persian poets of the Middle Ages, once said, “The garden is a delight to the eye and a consolation for the soul.”
Seville is much more than its undeniable monumentality. It is a city of lively streets and large open spaces such as the huge Plaza de España, María Luisa Park, and the avant-garde Setas de Sevilla. Travellers can enjoy the authentic atmosphere of Seville by embracing the local customs. Try tapas in the old town, in popular areas such as Alameda, Macarena, Nervión, Los Remedios or Triana. Apparently, marinated ‘pescaíto’ (fish), small filled rolls, typical snails, fino (white wine), manzanilla (sweet wine) or a cold beer are a must on any tapas outing.
Seville is Steeped in Tradition
In Seville is steeped in tradition. From flamenco shows and Spanish guitar music to ceramics and artisan crafts. There are plenty of shops and workshops in Triana. And it’s easy to enjoy flamenco at one of the many ‘tablao’ or neighbourhood ‘peña’ groups. Seville also hosts what is perhaps the most important international festival of this art: the Bienal. The tradition of Seville is also reflected in its more international festivals. Two good examples are the April Fair and Easter Week. The first is all about joy and passion for popular Andalusian art, an unbeatable chance to enjoy the sound of the Spanish guitar, flamenco fashion and festive Seville. Holy Week is a passionate festival with religious processions and live ‘saeta’ (emotional flamenco song dedicated to the religious figures).
Prize Winner – Deepak Jadoun, Click & Go
Congratulations to Deepak Jadoun (Click&Go), who won the star prize of 2 nights B&B Premium at the 5-Star Barceló Sevilla Renacimiento, plus return flights for two on the Aer Lingus direct service.
For More on Spain…
For more, discover the flavours from Tasting Spain at the Taste of Dublin 2025.