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February 2025 Dublin Airport Celebrates 85 Years From First Flight!
A SPECIAL celebration event was held to mark 85 years since the first flight took off from what we now know as Dublin Airport.
A mix of current and former airport staff, airline workers, aviation enthusiasts and guests from the world of Irish aviation gathered in Dublin Airport’s original Old Central Terminal Building to celebrate 85 years of the airport connecting Ireland with the world. Since the first flight departed Dublin Airport’s single grass runway on the morning of January 19, 1940, more than 700 million passengers have flown in and out of the airport.
Originally known as Collinstown Airport,
Dublin Airport has grown
over the past 85 years from a solitary Aer Lingus route between Dublin and Liverpool to more than 180 destinations worldwide served by 40+ different airlines.
Speaking at the celebratory event at Dublin Airport, Kenny Jacobs, CEO of daa, the operator of Dublin Airport, said: “Dublin Airport has come a long over the past 85 years. From starting life with a single grass runway, a terminal built to cater for 100,000 passengers per year and one twice-weekly flight to Liverpool, Dublin Airport today sits at the heart of the national economy and acts as Ireland’s national airport, catering for more than 200,000 flights and 30 million passengers per annum. “While the look and scale of Dublin Airport may have changed hugely since 1940, its reason for being remains the same: to connect Ireland with the world and to bring people together. On this historic day, I want to pay tribute
year. Last year, Dublin Airport’s two modern terminals welcomed more than 100,000 passengers on 171 separate days. Over the years, Dublin Airport has been
the location for many significant moments in Irish history, including visits from US Presidents and Popes, global superstars like The Beatles and Taylor Swift, as well as the homecomings of countless Irish sports and entertainment stars such as Jack Charlton’s Irish soccer heroes and boxing champions Katie Taylor and Kellie Harrington. The airport’s evolution mirrors Ireland’s growth, transforming from a small nation to one with a vibrant, outward-looking economy. Today, Dublin Airport continues to be a critical link between Ireland and the rest of the world, supporting tourism, business, and the travel needs of families and friends.
Birthday Celebrations To mark the 85th birthday,
Dublin
Airport arranged musical entertainment for passengers between 10am and 6pm in the
terminals, with The Blue Belles performing in Terminal 1 Arrivals from 1.15pm to 2.45pm, while the Swing Cats put on a show in Terminal 2 Arrivals between 2pm and 4pm.
Goodies and entertainment were in store too for passengers travelling on the 85th scheduled departure of the day – fittingly scheduled to be a Ryanair flight to Liverpool – with a special boarding gate
Jet2holidays and Jet2CityBreaks Recognised as Which? Recommended Providers
celebration taking place.
Dublin Airport’s first commercial flight in 1940
The first commercial flight at Dublin Airport took off shortly after 9am on a very cold Friday morning on January, 19, 1940 and was an Aer Lingus Lockheed 14 aircraft, bound for Liverpool’s Speke Airport (now known as Liverpool John Lennon Airport).
DAME IRENE HAYS
to two sets of people that have made – and continue to make – Dublin Airport such a roaring success – the 30,000+ brilliant staff who have worked for Dublin Airport over the years and, of course, our passengers – all 700 million of them who have travelled through our terminals since 1940.
“Dublin Airport also plays a vital role in facilitating and growing inbound tourism,
enabling Irish trade and
exports and in bringing foreign direct investment into the Irish economy. Dublin Airport may be located just a few miles north of Dublin, but its impact is felt every day in all 32 counties on the island of Ireland. And while we celebrate the past 85 years, we also look forward to the next 85 – and beyond – when Dublin Airport will continue to act as a vital cog in the function of this island nation and in the lives of our fast-growing population,” added Jacobs.
From Humble Beginnings
Dublin Airport opened in 1940 with a single grass runway and one terminal building. The Airport’s award-winning original terminal building was designed to handle up to 100,000 passengers per
JET2HOLIDAYS is entering the new year on a high, after being named a Which? Recommended Provider in an unprecedented five categories. Jet2holidays has once again
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has received recognition in the consumer champion’s Tailor-
Ryanair Adds Over 6,000 Extra Seats For 2025 Six Nations Championship
Made Holiday Providers category which involved surveying almost 13,000 Which? Connect panel members who had discussed their holiday requirements with a travel advisor and had their specific holiday needs catered to or had been provided with recommendations on destinations or hotels. After being highly praised for its customer service and value for money of their holiday overall, Jet2holidays
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FOLLOWING unprecedented demand from Irish fans, Ryanair has added extra flights on existing key match routes from Dublin to
Edinburgh, Cardiff and Rome, ensuring that Rugby fans can travel to watch some of this year’s biggest games of the Six Nations.
AND SENIOR
COLLEAGUES HEAD BACK TO THE SHOP FLOOR
WEDNESDAY 8 January saw members of Hays Travel’s senior team head back to the floor to support colleagues in branches across the UK during the busy peaks period. Hays Travel directors and divisional / regional sales managers worked in branches across the UK, including Jonathon Woodall-Johnston, Chief Operating Officer, who spent the day in Hays Travel Blackburn; Ken Campling, Chief Finance Officer, who joined colleagues in Scotland’s Livingston branch; and Jane Schumm, Retail Director, who headed to Abbeycentre in Northern Ireland. Meanwhile, Dame Irene Hays joined branch manager Jackie Lovell and her team at Hays Travel Milton Keynes, meeting customers and supporting colleagues.
Dame Irene said: “Our colleagues in branches do an exceptional job caring for our customers all year, but at our peak period in January and February they move to ‘amazing’ level. Spending a day on the ‘shop floor’ during this very busy time is a brilliant opportunity for our board members and sales managers to support and encourage our retail colleagues, hear about any areas for improvement, and gather direct feedback from our customers.”
As well as supporting colleagues, heading back to
the floor allows the senior team to gather valuable feedback.
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