note
Ireland's national airline commenced services on 22 May 1936 from Baldonnel Airport, Dublin to Bristol using a DeHavilland DH84 Dragon. Initially the airline operated services only to/from Britain. A subsidiary airline, Aerlinte Eireann, was formed in 1947 to operate transatlantic services but these didn't begin until April 1958. The two airlines eventually merged to trade as Aer Lingus. In November 1959 Aer Lingus became the launch airline for the Fokker F-27 Friendship. In October 1960 the airline entered the jet age when it took delivery of a Boeing 720. The airline used Boeing 707s, 720s & 747s on transatlantic services from the 1960's through the 1990's. Aer Lingus Commuter was formed to operate regional services using Shorts 360s and later Fokker F50s and BAe 146s. Eventually this service was contracted out to Aer Arann and re-branded as Aer Lingus Regional. With the acquisition of A330s in 1994 the airline expanded its North American network adding Los Angeles and Baltimore (later Washington Dulles). The large fleet of Boeing 737s were phased out in the early 200s in favour of A320s and A321s.
founded - demised (age)
May 22 1936 - present (89years)
headquarters
P.O.Box 180 Dublin Airport, Dublin
web
base airports
related operators
current /stored fleet (58)
