Aer Lingus History: From Iolar in 1936 to the Shamrock Today – Airline Employee Shop

Aer Lingus History

Aer Lingus began in 1936 with one small biplane and one route to Bristol, and grew into Ireland's flag carrier with a shamrock on every tail. Here's a short history of Aer Lingus, plus the Aer Lingus collection that celebrates it.

Iolar and the first flight (1936–1957)

Aer Lingus was founded on April 15, 1936. Its name comes from the Irish word aerloingeas, meaning "air fleet." On May 27, 1936, a de Havilland DH.84 Dragon, EI-ABI, named Iolar, Irish for "eagle," flew from Baldonnel Aerodrome near Dublin to Bristol. Five people were aboard, and Captain Oliver Eric Armstrong was at the controls. Vickers Viscounts and Fokker F27s later served the short-haul network.

Across the Atlantic and into the jet age (1958–1970)

A sister company, Aerlínte Éireann, was set up for transatlantic flying. Its first Shannon to New York service flew on April 28, 1958, and it took the Aer Lingus name in 1960. Jets arrived on December 14, 1960, when three Boeing 720s entered service. The BAC One-Eleven began European jet services in 1965 and stayed until 1990. A large green shamrock also first appeared on the tail in 1965.

Jumbos, alliances and a new owner (1971–2015)

The first Aer Lingus Boeing 747 was delivered on March 6, 1971, and 747 service ended in 1995. A white shamrock on the tail followed in 1974. Aer Lingus joined the oneworld alliance in 2000 and left on March 31, 2007. The Irish government floated the airline on October 2, 2006. Ryanair made several takeover bids, but in 2015 International Airlines Group, owner of British Airways, took control on September 2.

Ninety years on (2016–today)

The fleet has been all-Airbus since the last Boeing 737s left in 2005. A refreshed brand and livery were unveiled in January 2019. Aer Lingus now carries more than 11 million customers a year. On May 27, 2026, the 90th anniversary, a restored Dragon in Iolar colors recreated the first Dublin to Bristol route on the same date.

A few things collectors love

  • Aer Lingus aircraft are named after Irish saints.
  • On the first flight, ticket number 1 was held by May Ó hUadhaigh, wife of the Aer Lingus chairman.
  • The original Iolar was lost during the Second World War. The restored aircraft is a sister plane wearing the EI-ABI registration and the Iolar name.

Shop Aer Lingus

Browse Aer Lingus logo T-shirts, coffee mugs, coasters, tote bags and vintage designs in the Aer Lingus collection. Add an airline bag tag or key tag for the Aer Lingus fan in your life.

AirlineEmployeeShop.com is an independent retailer of airline memorabilia. This page is for historical interest and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Aer Lingus.