Holcomb defends international travel, announces new direct flight to Ireland • Indiana Capital Chronicle

Gov. Eric Holcomb on Monday said it’s worth sending Hoosier officials abroad to clinch economic development deals — while also touting a soon-to-launch international direct flight to Ireland.

He was in the Emerald Isle after spending a week in Greece at the invitation of the Council of State Governments. The term-limited Republican has spent more than a month this year on trade missions as his time in office ticks down.

Holcomb told reporters that he’s still able to effectively govern the state despite his frequent travels, adding, “It’s not either-or.”

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“Ultimately, all these deals come down to people — one to one, two to two, three to three — and that requires sitting at the same table,” he said.

“We were in that position decades ago, where whatever washed upon our shore is what we got,” he continued. “We have to go out and hustle.”

Holcomb’s administration on Monday announced the relaunch of a direct flight from Indianapolis to Dublin, Ireland — which took plenty of time and involved stiff competition, he said.

The Aer Lingus flight will operate year-round — with a break between January and February — with service scheduled four times weekly, according to a news release. It’s set to launch in May.

Dublin Airport is one of just two in Europe that lets U.S. bound travelers complete immigration and customs procedures prior to flying out, per the Indiana Economic Development Corp. That means there’s no going through customs after landing.

Aer Lingus CEO Lynne Embleton told Holcomb, “This deal is forever,” he recounted. “That spoke volumes to me about how they seek to be a great partner for the state of Indiana, and we will, of course, reciprocate.”

The deal is backed by a state incentive package.

The IEDC will provide $17 million annually, while the Indianapolis International Airport will put up about $2 million in credits and advertising for two years, the Indianapolis Business Journal reported.

“For a state like Indiana that used to be flyover country, by definition, for us to be able to compete … you need to de risk that initial investment on both sides,” Holcomb said.

Indiana lawmakers have consistently invested in wooing direct flight service to the state, approving $10 million in spending in the most recent biennial budget, $10 million in the previous budget, and millions more in the budget prior.

The Ireland trip was scheduled to include a visit to the Eli Lilly & Co. manufacturing campus. The Indianapolis pharmaceutical giant announced in September that it would invest about $2 billion into its Irish facilities, up from plans originally announced last year.

The schedule also includes meetings with U.S. and Irish government officials at the American embassy in Dublin and with Notre Dame Dublin students and faculty. The Hoosier delegation was also set to host a roundtable with the American Chamber of Commerce Ireland, according to the news release.

The trip was paid for by the IEDC.

Holcomb’s Ireland stop came after he spent a week in Greece leading a Council of State Governments delegation, per his office. He met with a variety of U.S. and Greek government officials and business leaders on that trip, which was paid by the council.

Holcomb noted he has just 83 days left in office. Republican U.S. Sen. Mike Braun, Democrat Jennifer McCormick and Libertarian Donald Rainwater are competing to succeed him.

“We’ll leave the cupboard full of projects that we’re working on,” Holcomb said.