IRISH AIRS

Information Exchange

Information Wanted

Air France Flights of 1986 and 1989

It has been reported that on 5 April 1986, Air France began service between Paris and Cork City using an F28 aircraft.  Covers carried from Paris to Cork and from Cork to Paris on this date supposedly exist.

It has also been reported that on 31 October 1989, Air France began service between Paris and Belfast using an F28 aircraft.  The first return flight from Belfast to Paris was on 1 November 1989.  Covers from these flights supposedly exist.

More information about these flights and photocopies of covers carried on the flights are needed.  If you can furnish any of this information please contact Bill Murphy at wjm5813@aol.com . 

Did you know?

Aer Lingus 1936-1945

Aer Lingus was founded in April 1936 with an authorized capital of £100,000.  They purchased one aircraft, a five passenger De Havilland DH84 Dragon, which they named Iolar, the Irish word for eagle.  On May 27th, the company began daily service to Bristol, and on May 30th, a three times a week summer service to the Isle of Man.  These flights were made from Baldonnel aerodrome. .  

A second aircraft, a ten passenger De Havilland DH86A Dragon was acquired on September 14, 1936 and was named Éire.  On that day, the Dublin to Bristol service was extended to London with this new plane and a new service to Liverpool was inaugurated using the Iolar.  In 1938, the Dragon Iolar was replaced by a seven passenger De Havilland DH89A Dragon Rapide and a second ten passenger DH86 was added to the fleet.

In June 1939, the company obtained two new 14 passenger Lockheed 14's.  These were the first brand new aircraft to join the Aer Lingus fleet.  When war broke out in September 1939, the Dublin/Bristol/London and Dublin/Isle of Man routes were abandoned.  Then on October 28th, a daily service to Liverpool was re-inaugurated.  This route was maintained throughout the most of the war years.  From August 5, 1940, until November 16, 1942, Manchester was used as the English terminus.  From April 14, 1944, through September 8, 1944. this service was suspended due to the approach of D-Day and the subsequent invasion activities.  

On January 19, 1940, the Aer Lingus base of operations was transferred from Baldonnel to the recently completed Dublin Airport at Collinstown.  On that day they flew two aircraft to Liverpool.  In February, the DH89 Dragon Rapide was removed from service.  In April 1940, Aer Lingus received its first DC3, which had been ordered the previous year.  On May 7th, it was introduced on the Dublin/Liverpool route. The two Lockheed 14's were removed from service on May 25th.

On August 12, 1942, a three times a week air service between Dublin and Shannon was inaugurated.  Due to poor traffic on this route, it was suspended two and a half months later on October 30th.  On November 9, 1945, a direct Dublin to London service was re-established. 

Aer Lingus - Fleet

By the end of 2005, Aer Lingus will have a fleet consisting of only Airbus aircraft.  At the present time (fall 2004) they have the following aircraft:

  • Airbus A321 - 6
  • Airbus A320 - 9 
  • Airbus A330-300 - 4 
  • Airbus A330-200 - 3
  • Boeing 737-500 - 8
  • Boeing 737-400 - 3
Over the next year they will sell all of their Boeing 737s and replace them with 12 new Airbus A320s so that by the end of 2005 their fleet will consist of:
  • Airbus A321 - 6
  • Airbus A320 - 21
  • Airbus A330-300 - 4
  • Airbus A330-200 - 3

The seven Airbus A330s are used on the Transatlantic routes.

 Dublin Airport - Scheduled Airlines

Here are the 35 scheduled airlines operating out of Dublin Airport at the present time.

Adria Airways                        CSA Czech Airways
Aer Arann                              Delta Airlines
Aer Lingus                              Euromanx
Aeroflot                                  Finnair
Aero Lloyd                             Flybe
Air Canada                             Helios
Air France                              Iberia
Air Luxor                                Lufthansa
Air Malta                                Luxair
Air Wales                               Malev
Alitalia                                    Ryanair
Austrian Airlines                     SAS
Braathens                               Skynet
bmi                                        skyways
bmi baby                                Sun Air
British Airways                       Swiss Air
City Jet                                  US Airways
Continental Airlines

Belfast Airports - Scheduled Airlines

Here are the scheduled airlines operating out of both Belfast International and Belfast City Airports.

Belfast International Airport
bmibaby
Eastern Airlines
easyjet
MyTravelLite
Jet2.com (Will begin service to Prague on 29th April 2004)
flyglobespan.com (operates May to October seasonal service to Palma)

Belfast City Airport
British Midland
CitiExpress
flybe
JetMagic (Suspended all its operation as of 31st January 2004)
Flykeen
Aer Arann (operates service to Cork City)

If you have anything to contribute to "Did you Know" or have any answers to "Information Wanted" or wish to ask a question in "Information Wanted" please send what you have to Bill Murphy:

Send E-mail messages to:wjm5813@aol.com

Send regular mail to: W.J. Murphy, 5813 Castano Drive, San Jose, CA 95129, USA.
The information on this page will be changed periodically. .
© 2004 William J. Murphy - Updated February 14, 2005