Europe Airports - Aer Lingus

Aer Lingus, the national airline of Ireland, based in Dublin, started operations in 1936 with a 6 seater biplane flying from Dublin to Bristol.

Apart from the war years, the airline saw steady expansion under the ownership of the Irish government, mostly with flights to the UK and the United States.

The events of 9/11 had a serious effect on Aer Lingus, resulting in a cut back of staff and planes.

The airline now has 46 planes, all Airbus A319 – 330 (the larger aircraft used on long haul) and concentrates more on European flights than it used to, competing with the low cost airlines.

Aer Lingus was floated on the stock market in late 2006, with the Irish goevernment retaining 28% at the time.

Ryanair promptly bought a stake in the airline but failed in its two attempts at a takeover, the first in 2006 and the second in 2008.
A further takeover bid by Ryanair in 2012 was rejected.

In 2010, flights commenced under the Aer Lingus Regional brand, operated by Aer Arann.

In 2015, Aer Lingus was taken over by IAG, the parent company of British Airways and Iberia, and is expected to remain as a separate brand.

Aer Lingus transported 10.4 million passengers in 2016, a 3% increase from the previous year.

Aberdeen(Dyce)(ABZ), flying to: Ireland

Belfast City(George Best Airport)(BHD), flying to: UK

Birmingham(BHX), flying to: Ireland, UK

Bristol(BRS), flying to: Ireland

Cardiff(CWL), flying to: Ireland, UK

Cork(ORK), flying to: Croatia, France, Germany, Portugal, Spain

Cork(ORK), flying to: UK

Donegal(CFN), flying to: Ireland

Dublin(DUB), flying to: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey

Dublin(DUB), flying to: Ireland, UK

East Midlands(EMA), flying to: UK

Edinburgh(Turnhouse)(EDI), flying to: Ireland, UK

Exeter(EXT), flying to: Ireland, UK

Glasgow(GLA), flying to: Ireland, UK

Ireland West(Knock)(NOC), flying to: UK

Isle of Man(Ronaldsway)(IOM), flying to: Ireland

Jersey(JER), flying to: Ireland

Kerry(Farranforce)(KIR), flying to: Ireland

Leeds-Bradford(LBA), flying to: Ireland

London City(LCY), flying to: UK

London Gatwick(LGW), flying to: Ireland

London Heathrow(LHR), flying to: Ireland, UK

Manchester(MAN), flying to: Ireland, UK

Newcastle(NCL), flying to: Ireland

Newquay(NQY), flying to: Ireland, UK

Shannon(SNN), flying to: France, Portugal, Spain

Shannon(SNN), flying to: UK

 13/05/09     Aer Lingus Cut 5 Routes and Add 1 New Route From Belfast this Winter
It has been reported that Aer Lingus are to temporarily cut 5 of their routes from Belfast International airport this winter, however a new route to Tenerife is to be introduced. …More

 27/06/07     EU Commission block proposed takeover of Aer Lingus by Ryanair
It has been leaked that the EU Commission is to block the proposed take over of Aer Lingus by Ryanair. The budget airline Ryanair held a press conference yesterday in which they o…More