British Airways’ owner makes fresh attempt to buy Aer Lingus

0a1a_46
0a1a_46
Avatar of Linda Hohnholz
Written by Linda Hohnholz

DUBLIN, Ireland – It has ben reported that the owner of British Airways has made a third attempt to buy Aer Lingus. Here are some key dates in Irish airline’s history:

1936

DUBLIN, Ireland – It has ben reported that the owner of British Airways has made a third attempt to buy Aer Lingus. Here are some key dates in Irish airline’s history:

1936

State-owned Aer Lingus takes delivery of its first aircraft, registered EI-ABI, on May 26, 1936 and named it “Iolar” (Eagle). This was Aer Lingus’s only aircraft for two years.

1946

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

1957

Major expansion of continental European network, mostly via Manchester.

1958

First transatlantic 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 NY 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.

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.

1985

Aer Lingus gets first real domestic competition with arrival of Ryanair.

1993

Financial problems force airline to introduce the Cahill plan to address commercial challenges.

2001

Willie Walsh becomes chief executive in October. Implementation of survival plan following September 11 attacks which hurt airlines around the world. Introduction of low fares model to compete with low cost carriers.

2005

Walsh quits after failed management buy-out.

2006

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

2007

Aer Lingus carries in excess of one million transatlantic passengers.

2008

Ryanair launches second take-over bid.

2009

Christoph Mueller become chief executive and announces radical cost-cutting plan.

2012

Third Ryanair bid rejected.

2014

Mueller unexpectedly announces resignation. His announcement is followed by news of first bid from IAG.

2015

IAG makes third bid for Aer Lingus at โ‚ฌ2.50 a share.

About the author

Avatar of Linda Hohnholz

Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

Share to...