IATA Code: EI ICAO Code: EIN Known As: Aer Lingus Full Name: Aer Lingus, Ltd. Country: Ireland Hubs: Dublin Callsign: Shamrock Web Site: www.aerlingus.com History: Aer Lingus Teoranta was established on May 22, 1936 and operations began five days later using De Havilland 84 Dragon biplane named Iolar (Eagle). The name Aer Lingus is an Anglicization of the Irish form Aer Loingeas which means Air Fleet (as does Aeroflot). On November 9, 1945 scheduled services were expanded and Aer Lingus planes were painted in a silver and green livery. In 1946 an Anglo-Irish agreement gave Aer Lingus exclusive UK traffic rights in exchange for a 40% holding by British Overseas Airways Corporation and British European Airways (BEA). In 1956 Aer Lingus introduced a new, green top livery with a white lighting flash down the windows and the Irish flag displayed on each plane's fin. Aer Lingus Teoranta was renamed Aerlínte Éireann in 1947 for the planned inauguration of transatlantic flights to New York. The transatlantic service was put on hold due to financial constraints, but was eventually begun on April 28, 1958 from Shannon to New York. On January 1, 1960 Aerlínte Éireann was renamed Aer Lingus - Irish International Airlines, and jet services began later that year with the delivery of three B720s. In 1965 a new livery was adopted, with a large white shamrock on the vertical stabilizer and titles of Aer Lingus-International just above the plane's windows. In 1974 another new livery was unveiled using two different colors of blue and one green, plus the white shamrock on the tail/fin. "International" was also dropped, with Aer Lingus now displayed on the fuselage. In 1984 a fully-owned subsidiary, Aer Lingus Commuter, was established to serve regional destinations. On February 1, 2001, Aer Lingus Commuter merged back into the mainline operation and following September 11, 2001 Aer Lingus' operations were reduced, as revenue relied heavily on the North American market. On October 29, 2005 Aer Lingus withdrew its last two B737 aircraft from service, giving the airline an all-Airbus fleet. Aer Lingus will withdraw from the Oneworld airline alliance on 1 April 2007, as the airline repositions itself as a low-fare, point to point carrier, which is at odds with Oneworld's pitch to the premium international frequent-flyer.