Historic Aer Lingus aircraft visits Shannon Airport in 90th anniversary year

Shannon Airport today welcomed one of Ireland’s most iconic, historic aircraft as Aer Lingus’ restored EI-ABI Iolar made a unique visit to the airport during the airline’s 90th anniversary year.

Aviation enthusiasts, airport staff and visitors gathered to see the 1936 de Havilland DH.84 Dragon at Shannon providing a unique opportunity to experience a living piece of Irish aviation history. The beautifully restored aircraft – a sister ship to Aer Lingus’ original Iolar, which operated the airline’s inaugural service 90 years ago – is one of the last surviving of its type and provides a unique glimpse into the earliest days of commercial aviation in Ireland.

Aer Lingus has been part of the Shannon story since first serving the airport in 1942 and remains one of its key airline partners today, operating more than 3,600 flights and offering over 670,000 seats this year across services to London, Paris, Boston and New York.

Welcoming the aircraft, CEO of The Shannon Airport Group, Ray O’Driscoll, said: “The arrival of the Iolar at Shannon Airport is a special moment for everyone with an interest in aviation history and a wonderful reminder of the long and enduring relationship between Aer Lingus and Shannon.

“This aircraft offers a fascinating glimpse into the early days of air travel. While aviation has changed beyond recognition over the past 90 years, its importance in bringing people and places together remains as strong as ever. We are delighted to welcome the Iolar to Shannon as part of this landmark anniversary year.”

Aer Lingus COO Adrian Dunne said: “As Aer Lingus celebrates 90 years of connecting Ireland with the world, it is particularly special to bring the Iolar to Shannon Airport and share this important part of our heritage with colleagues, customers and aviation enthusiasts in the west of Ireland.

“The Iolar reflects the ambition and pioneering spirit on which Aer Lingus was founded in 1936. Across nine decades, our purpose has remained the same – connecting people, families, communities and businesses.

“Shannon Airport has played an important role in the Aer Lingus story for generations, and we are proud to mark this milestone anniversary with one of our longest-standing airport partners.”

Among those welcoming the aircraft was Mike Kelly, Curator of the Shannon Airport Aviation Gallery, who said: “Having displayed a model of the Iolar in the Shannon Airport’s Aviation Gallery for many years, seeing the aircraft arrive in Shannon was a real privilege.
“I’ve been lucky enough to see all sorts of planes over the years, but this one is something special. It’s a beautiful piece of history. The minute you step aboard, you get a sense of what flying was like in those early days, and that’s something you can’t really appreciate from photographs or books. It’s a credit to everyone who worked on its restoration. 

“Shannon Airport has welcomed some of the world’s most famous aircraft over the decades, and today it can add the Iolar to that list. It’s been a day to remember!”