AER LINGUS has announced an operating profit of E14.3m for the first half of 2003 against a loss of E12.6m for the same period last year and an operating loss of E38.1m for the first half of 2001. Turnover at E414.1m was down 8.6% from E453.1m for the first half of 2002 driven by the continuing reduction in fares. However, costs were also down significantly at E399.8 m, a 14.2% reduction compared with E465.7 m in the first half of 2002 and a 30% reduction compared to E571.1m in 2001. From 26 October Aer Lingus will start two new routes linking Dublin with Toulouse and Tenerife. These are in addition to the five new routes already launched this year from Dublin to Washington-Baltimore, Lisbon, Bologna, Palma and Jersey. http://www.aerlingus.ie top