Cork Airport welcomes Aer Lingus “Iolar” for historic visit to mark double anniversary celebrations

Cork Airport welcomed a very special visitor yesterday as the Aer Lingus de Havilland DH.84 Dragon “Iolar” (“eagle” as Gaeilge) paid a courtesy visit marking the airline’s 90th anniversary celebrations and the airport’s 65th anniversary year. Aer Lingus flight EI1936 touched down at Cork Airport shortly after 11:00 this morning, under the command of Captain Garret Brady and was welcomed with a special escort from the runway to the parking stand by Cork Airport Police & Fire Service.

The Aer Lingus de Havilland DH.84 “Iolar” (registration EI-ABI) is an exact replica of the very first aircraft that flew the airline’s first ever route from Baldonnell in Dublin to Bristol’s Whitchurch airport in May 1936. Carrying five passengers on its inaugural flight, the journey took three hours, cruising at an average speed of 110 mph (177 km/h). By comparison, a modern Aer Lingus Airbus A320 jet cruises at a speed of 515 mph (829 km/h). While the original “Iolar” was lost off the English coast during the Second World War, this impeccably restored DH.84 Dragon joined the Aer Lingus fleet in 1986 as the airline marked its 50th anniversary celebrations. Assigned the very same registration EI-ABI, it paid its first visit to Cork Airport in that same year, as Cork Airport celebrated its 25th anniversary. The airline subsequently returned to Cork Airport for a courtesy visit in 2011, to mark the airport’s own 50th anniversary. More recently, the aircraft underwent further restoration and marked the airline’s 90th anniversary by reprising the original, inaugural Dublin – Bristol flight on May 27 last.

Today’s visit of EI-ABI “Iolar” is the fourth such occasion that the aircraft has visited Cork Airport. The “Iolar” is one of only three known examples of the de Havilland DH.84 Dragon that are still flying anywhere in the world today. As part of the celebrations, staff from Cork Airport and Aer Lingus had the opportunity to enjoy a series of scenic flights over Cork city and Cork harbour, experiencing the beauty of the region from an altitude of just 2,000 feet.

Aer Lingus and Cork Airport share a strong history, stretching back to October 1961 when the airport first opened. The very first flight to land at Cork Airport was an Aer Lingus Fokker Friendship EI-AKG St. Fiachra which operated a “proving flight” on October 12, 1961. Today, Aer Lingus fly directly from Cork to 15 destinations across the UK and Europe, and with four-times daily services to London Heathrow, provides excellent onward connectivity with the British Airways worldwide network.

Welcoming the Aer Lingus “Iolar” to Cork Airport, Darran Dineen, General Manager – Operations, Safety, IT and Facilities at Cork Airport said: “This is truly a unique and historic visit today as we welcome the Aer Lingus “Iolar” – the fourth such occasion that the aircraft has visited Cork Airport. It’s a doubly special occasion for the visit as Aer Lingus celebrates its 90th anniversary, Cork Airport is marking its 65th year. Aer Lingus is our longest standing airline customer, having a presence here since 1961 and we’re especially proud to join in the celebration with Aer Lingus’ Cork-based staff, marking the 90th anniversary of the airline.”

Adrian Dunne, Chief Operating Officer at Aer Lingus added: “As Aer Lingus and Cork Airport mark major milestones in their histories, it is particularly special to bring the Iolar to Cork and showcase this iconic piece of Ireland's aviation heritage to colleagues, customers and aviation enthusiasts.”