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 โฌ2.50 a share.