Aer Lingus takes stock as it prepares for €1bn float in its 70th year

SEVENTY years ago Aer Lingus Teoranta was registered as an airline, on May 22, 1936.

The name, Aer Lingus is an anglicisation of the Irish form Aer Loingeas which means Air Fleet (as does Aeroflot).

Five days after being founded the airline opened its first service between Baldonnel airfield in Dublin and Bristol, England, using a six-seater De Havilland 84 Dragon biplane which was named Lolar (Eagle).