Aer Lingus was an early Boeing 747 operator, but the jumbo proved too big, too costly, and ultimately obsolete for Ireland’s flag carrier.

For nearly a quarter of a century, the Boeing 747 was the most visible symbol of Aer Lingus’ long-haul ambitions. The Irish flag carrier was among the early adopters of the jumbo jet, operating the type from the early 1970s until the mid-1990s.