Aer Arann Airlines

History

The initial purpose of Aer Arann when established in 1970 was to provide an island-hopping air service between Galway and the Aran Islands off the west coast of Ireland. Operations, using a single Britten-Norman Islander, began in August 1970. This service has since been moved to the less distant Connemara Airport and operates as "Aer Arann Islands". As of 2010 it still uses Islander aircraft.

In 1994, Pádraig Ó Céidigh purchased the airline and began to expand the airline's routes and fleet, launching scheduled services in 1998. From 2002 to 2008, its service has been widely recognised and awarded, thanks to its marketing achievements and increase in turnover and passengers. In 2008, Aer Arann entered into a franchise agreement with Nex Aviation and introduced service to Amsterdam, Bordeaux, Málaga and Faro, using British Aerospace 146 aircraft during the summer months. Since October 2008, the airline has started a cost-saving programme, due to the downturn in passenger traffic, though the key routes were to remain unchanged. In January 2010, Aer Arann and Aer Lingus founded Aer Lingus Regional which effectively removed Aer Arann's hubs at Cork and Dublin under the new airline. After an interim examinership in 2010, Aer Arann is now owned by Everdeal Ltd, which is 95% owned by Pádraig Ó Céidigh, Aer Arann's Chairman, and 5% owned by the Stobart Group

About the airlines

Aer Arann is a regional airline based in Dublin, Ireland. Aer Arann has expanded from a single aircraft to Ireland's third largest airline behind Ryanair and Aer Lingus. The airline has three bases under its own brand in Kerry, Waterford, and the Isle of Man, as well as Conamara which operates under the "Aer Arann Islands" brand. It also has bases in Cork, Dublin, and Shannon, but all operate under the Aer Lingus Regional brand. Aer Arann is owned by Everdeal Ltd, which is 95% owned by Pádraig Ó Céidigh, Aer Arann's Chairman, and 5% owned by the Stobart Group, through 35 preference shares of €1 each acquired on 10 November 2010.

Main route

Aer Arann flies to the following destinations in Europe: Lorient, Rennes, Ireland, Cork, Dublin, Kerry, Shannon, Waterford, England, Birmingham, Blackpool, Bristol, London, Manchester, Scotland, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Cardiff, Isle of Man and Jersey.

Fleet

Its fleet consists of 4 ATR 42-300, 5 ATR 72-201/212, 4 ATR 72-500, 3 Britten-Norman Islander and 1 Dornier 328.