Aer Lingus Teoranta was registered as an airline in 1936. Teoranta means ‘limited company’ and ‘Lingus’ is derived from the Irish ‘loingeas’ meaning fleet. In 1936, Aer Lingus introduced the Dublin to Bristol route at Baldonnel Aerodrome. In 1940, Aer Lingus moved into the newly completed Dublin Airport.

1936   

Aer Lingus took delivery of its first aircraft, registered EI-ABI, on 26 May 1936 and named it "Iolar" (Eagle). This was Aer Lingus' first and only aircraft and it was based at Baldonnel Aerodrome, the Irish Army Air Corps base outside Dublin. At 0900 hours, May 27, 1936, the aircraft took off from Baldonnel on Aer Lingus' first flight from Baldonnel to Bristol. Within a few weeks, summer service began to the Isle of Man.

In September the network was extended to London (Croydon Airport) using a newly-acquired De Havilland DH86.

1938   

Aer Lingus acquired a de Havilland D.H.89A Dragon Rapide in February 1938 to replace EI-ABI, which was sold to the British airline Channel Air Ferries and it was restored to the British registry as G-ACPY on February 19, 1938.

1940   

First Douglas DC-3 delivered in April.

1946   

Paris added to the network, becoming the first Continental European city to be served by Aer Lingus.

1954   

First Viscount 700s delivered in March.  Aer Lingus was the third airline to introduce the Viscount, the world's first turboprop airliner.

1957   

Major expansion of Continental European network, mostly using new rights via Manchester.

1958  

The DC-3 (was also widely known by its RAF name, the Dakota) were replaced by new Fokker F27 Friendship twin turboprops.

 Aerlinte Eireann, originally formed in the 1940s, re-establishes and on the 28 April the first service leaves Dublin and Shannon for New York.

The shamrock replaces the Irish flag on the tail of Aerlinte Eireann aircraft and a year later is extended to the European fleet.

1960   

Aer Lingus enters the jet age, with Boeing 720s covering the routes from Dublin and Shannon to New York and Boston.

1965   

BAC One-Eleven jets introduced on Continental European network.

1966   

Montreal and Chicago added to the transatlantic network in April.

Aer Lingus replaces Fokker F27 for Vickers Viscount 800s in 1966.

1969 

Boeing 737-200 introduced into service. The aircraft became the mainstay of our short-haul fleet for many years.

1971   

First Aer Lingus Boeing 747 is delivered.

1974   

Aer Lingus unveils its revamped livery featuring two new green colours and a blue.  A new white shamrock appears on the fin, provoking outrage among purists!

1979   

Pope John Paul II flies from Rome to Dublin and later from Shannon to Boston on an Aer Lingus plane that has been specially chartered for him.

1986   

Aer Lingus celebrates its 50th Anniversary.

1989   

The first of a fleet of five Boeing 737-400s, the largest 737 to date with capacity for 156 passengers, enters service

1993   

The Cahill Plan was introduced. This restructuring programme was launched to address the commercial challenges of the airline, at that time.

1994   

Airbus A330 introduced into service on transatlantic routes. Aer Lingus was the first airline to operate an A330 under ETOPS  (Extended-range Twin-engine Operation Performance Standards) over the North Atlantic.

1995   

On the 2nd of October the last Aer Lingus Boeing 747 flight takes place after 25 years of service.  By that time, over eight million people had travelled across the Atlantic in Aer Lingus ‘Jumbo Jets’.

Introduction of BAe146 into fleet in April to replace turboprops on UK routes.

1996   

New corporate identity introduced in February.

Chicago service reintroduced after being suspended previously.

1997   

Newark service inaugurated in May.

1998   

Daily Cork-Amsterdam and Cork-Paris services started in June using BAe146s.

Introduction of Airbus A321 into service in May, used initially on busy Dublin-Heathrow route.

1999   

Launch of Los Angeles service in May using newly-delivered long-range Airbus A330-200

2000  

Introduction of first Airbus A320 into service in June on busier Continental routes

2001  

Implementation of survival plan following 9/11 – introduction of low fares model to compete with low cost carriers.

2005   

Last Boeing 737-500s withdrawn from service in October, making Aer Lingus an all-Airbus airline.

Two new long haul Airbus A330 aircraft are ordered due for delivery in 2007

 2006   

Aer Lingus celebrates its 70th Anniversary.

Aer Lingus is floated on the Irish and London Stock Exchanges.

Aer Lingus launches its first long haul destination outside of North America, Dubai.

 2007

Open Skies agreement provides Aer Lingus with new opportunities to grow its long haul network and within an hour of the announcement Aer Lingus announces three new routes to the U.S.  Commencing with Washington D.C in August, followed by San Francisco and Orlando in October. Aer Lingus takes delivery of two new A330 aircraft. Aer Lingus carries in excess of 1 million transatlantic passengers.

2008   

Aer Lingus announces an industry first, pioneering partnership with U.S airline, JetBlue Airways connecting Aer Lingus passengers with over 40 domestic destinations. Aer Lingus signs a codeshare agreement with United Airlines providing Aer Lingus passengers with access to over 200 U.S destinations on the UA network. 

Aer Lingus celebrates 50 years of Transatlantic flying on 28 April 2008.

Aer Lingus embarks on a long haul aircraft product upgrade of its current fleet, which is rolled out from the end of 2008.

2010   

Aer Lingus celebrates 70 years of flights at Dublin airport. On the 19 January, 1940, Dublin Airport was officially opened when an Aer Lingus Lockheed 14 aircraft departed Dublin for Liverpool at 09.00 am, the aircraft having been positioned over from Baldonnel Aerodrome the previous evening.

2011   

The Iolar aircraft undergoes a restoration project meaning it is once again airworthy.

On 24th March, Aer Lingus takes delivery of a new A320 aircraft, St Coleman, in an especially commissioned retro 1960s ‘Irish International’ livery which marked its 75th anniversary celebrations.

2012   

Aer Lingus becomes social as it launches the Aer Lingus Facebook page.

2014   

In April 2014 Aer Lingus commences its direct services to San Francisco and Toronto.

Also in April Aer Lingus becomes the first airline to have a present on the social media platform, Snapchat.

In October 2014 the new Aer Lingus Business Class is unveiled. Available on routes across the Atlantic, the offering now includes a new Vantage Seat which transforms into a fully-flat 6’6’’ (2 metres) bed, complimentary Wi-Fi, a new business class menu created with Irish food consultant, Hugo Arnold together with the very best in inflight entertainment.

2015   

In April 2015 Aer Lingus becomes the official airline partner to IRFU. As part of the partnership the Green Spirit was unveiled with a special branded livery featuring our four ambassadors which carried the team to the Rugby World Cup and the Six Nations.

In May of this year the inaugural flight to Washington takes flight.

In July, as airline partner to Special Olympics Aer Lingus supports 88 Team Ireland athletes on their journey to LA for the 2015 Special Olympics World Games.

In September Aer Lingus joins International Airlines Group. Joining British Airways, Iberia and Vueling. Aer Lingus becomes part of one of the world’s largest and most successful airline groups.

In October 2015 Aer Lingus announces three new transatlantic routes – Los Angeles, Hartford, Connecticut and Newark, New Jersey, now offering a total of 12 direct transatlantic routes from Ireland.

2016   

On 4th May Aer Lingus begins its direct service to LAX, Los Angeles, California.  

2017 

In March 2017, as partner airline to Special Olympics Ireland, Aer Lingus flew 28 Team Ireland athletes to the World Winter Games in Austria and five Aer Lingus staff travelled as Special Olympics volunteers at the World Winter Games.

Later in March, Aer Lingus launched AerClub, its new loyalty programme partnered with Avios.

On 1st September, our inaugural direct service to Miami launched.

In 2017 Aer Lingus took delivery of two new aircraft, a new Airbus A330-300 in May and a new Airbus A300-200 in December.

Further fleet expansion is announced with the acquisition of 8 Airbus A321Neo long-range (LR) aircraft, bringing the longhaul fleet to 24 by 2020.

2018   

Aer Lingus celebrates 60 years of Transatlantic flying on 28 April 2018.

In 2018 Aer Lingus launched direct services to Philadelphia and Seattle, bringing the number of direct routes from Ireland to North America to 15. 

Aer Lingus announced a partnership with Alaska Airlines, as part of an interline agreement with that will enable Aer Lingus travellers to connect onwards via Seattle to a wide range of destinations up and down the West Coast including Alaska and Hawaii; while loyal Alaska flyers will gain the opportunity to fly transatlantic to Ireland and further into Europe.

Aer Lingus launched its Future Pilots programme, recruited more cabin crew and doubled the number of engineering apprenticeships, as the airline goes through a significant period of growth and expansion.

Aer Lingus announce two further North American transatlantic routes – Minneapolis St. Paul in the US and Montréal in Canada.

2019

On 17th January Aer Lingus unveiled a refreshed brand with updated logo and new aircraft livery, reflecting the airline’s position as a modern and contemporary Irish brand that competes on the international stage.

On 1st July Aer Lingus launched its direct service to MSP, Minneapolis, Minnesota.  

2020

On 15th January Aer Lingus revealed its new look uniform which will be worn by over 4,000 cabin and ground crew around the world from February 10th. Created by Irish fashion designer Louise Kennedy, the new look reflects Aer Lingus’ status as a modern international airline with a proud Irish heritage and is the final stage in the airline’s brand refresh.

2021

In March, Aer Lingus announced the launch of its first-ever transatlantic services direct from Manchester to the US and the Caribbean. Aer Lingus commenced three new routes from Manchester Airport flying to Barbados which launched 20 October, New York (JFK) 1 December and Orlando 11 December.