Aer Lingus Airbus A300
Aer Lingus (more properly Aer Loingeas, meaning “Air Fleet” in Gaelic) was established in 1936 by Blackpool and West Coast Air Services, though this was always meant to be temporary; in 1937, as planned, Aer Lingus was acquired and financed by the Irish government. It began flights to the United Kingdom from Dublin, starting with a single deHavilland DH.84 Dragon. Services to the UK and inside Ireland itself were gradually expanded, but World War II severely curtailed operations.
After the war’s end, Aer Lingus was able to greatly expand flights with a DC-3 fleet to the UK, winning exclusive rights to operate flights to and from Dublin. It was hoped that Aer Lingus would also begin transatlantic flights, but indifference by the Irish government meant that it would not be until 1958 before services to New York were introduced. It began jet operations in 1960 with Boeing 720s and became known as Aer Lingus-Irish International Airlines, though this was eventually dropped in 1974 in favor of the earlier title. Aer Lingus gained a reputation for safety and reliability, without a single fatality since 1968; Pope John Paul II chose Aer Lingus and Alitalia as his airline of choice, which helped Aer Lingus’ reputation. It also opened a commuter service, Aer Lingus Commuter, in 1984.
The airline saw a downturn in the late 1990s, resulting in the reabsorption of Aer Lingus Commuter in 2001 and three attempts by low-cost airline Ryanair to acquire Aer Lingus. Nonetheless, the airline continued to turn a profit, and switched its marketing strategy to emphasis more on European destinations rather than its transatlantic routes (though those continue and have expanded), also going to an all-Airbus fleet. In 2006, the Irish government sold off its interest in Aer Lingus, privatizing the company. Aer Lingus is now one of the oldest continually operating airlines in the world, with a fleet of 48 aircraft, mostly Airbus A320s.
Aer Lingus apparently never flew A300s, and the EI-AMW registration belonged to one of the airline’s 707s. However, when Bary Poletto built it in the mid-1970s, he may have assumed Aer Lingus would buy A300s in the future.
Aer Lingus Airbus A300
Aer Lingus (more properly Aer Loingeas, meaning “Air Fleet” in Gaelic) was established in 1936 by Blackpool and West Coast Air Services, though this was always meant to be temporary; in 1937, as planned, Aer Lingus was acquired and financed by the Irish government. It began flights to the United Kingdom from Dublin, starting with a single deHavilland DH.84 Dragon. Services to the UK and inside Ireland itself were gradually expanded, but World War II severely curtailed operations.
After the war’s end, Aer Lingus was able to greatly expand flights with a DC-3 fleet to the UK, winning exclusive rights to operate flights to and from Dublin. It was hoped that Aer Lingus would also begin transatlantic flights, but indifference by the Irish government meant that it would not be until 1958 before services to New York were introduced. It began jet operations in 1960 with Boeing 720s and became known as Aer Lingus-Irish International Airlines, though this was eventually dropped in 1974 in favor of the earlier title. Aer Lingus gained a reputation for safety and reliability, without a single fatality since 1968; Pope John Paul II chose Aer Lingus and Alitalia as his airline of choice, which helped Aer Lingus’ reputation. It also opened a commuter service, Aer Lingus Commuter, in 1984.
The airline saw a downturn in the late 1990s, resulting in the reabsorption of Aer Lingus Commuter in 2001 and three attempts by low-cost airline Ryanair to acquire Aer Lingus. Nonetheless, the airline continued to turn a profit, and switched its marketing strategy to emphasis more on European destinations rather than its transatlantic routes (though those continue and have expanded), also going to an all-Airbus fleet. In 2006, the Irish government sold off its interest in Aer Lingus, privatizing the company. Aer Lingus is now one of the oldest continually operating airlines in the world, with a fleet of 48 aircraft, mostly Airbus A320s.
Aer Lingus apparently never flew A300s, and the EI-AMW registration belonged to one of the airline’s 707s. However, when Bary Poletto built it in the mid-1970s, he may have assumed Aer Lingus would buy A300s in the future.