In 1933, a small Glasgow-based operator called Midland & Scottish Air Ferries — founded by bus operator John Sword — launched a scheduled service from Glasgow to Belfast using de Havilland DH84 Dragons. Later that year, the company introduced a route from its subsidiary base at Hooton Park (across the River Mersey from Liverpool) via Speke Airport to Baldonnel. The inaugural flight on this route took place on 14 August 1933 and operated daily until late in the year, primarily using Airspeed Ferries G-ACBT and G-ACFB.
However, this early air link across the Irish Sea proved short-lived and was not resumed in 1934.
As air travel gained wider acceptance and small independent airlines proliferated across England and Scotland, it was only a matter of time before Ireland secured a more permanent connection with England. Several visionary figures had long advocated for the creation of a national Irish airline, but securing full government backing proved challenging. Finally, in May 1936, Aer Lingus was established with vital support from English independent carrier Blackpool & West Coast Air Services. This company provided initial funding, supplied the first aircraft (a DH84 Dragon), and offered essential technical assistance.
When Aer Lingus commenced operations on 27 May 1936, with its inaugural flight from Dublin (Baldonnel) to Bristol (Whitchurch). Blackpool & West Coast also operated a direct Liverpool–Isle of Man–Baldonnel service using DH84 Dragons, supplemented by four-engined DH86 aircraft during the summer months. The two airlines worked closely together, jointly marketing their Baldonnel–English routes under the banner “Irish Sea Airways”. Aer Lingus additionally launched a seasonal summer service to the Isle of Man in July 1936.
On 14 September 1936, Aer Lingus established the first direct air link between Dublin and London by extending its Bristol route to Croydon with a newly delivered DH86 Express Airliner. At the same time, the DH84 Dragon was introduced on the Dublin–Liverpool route.
In April 1937, Aer Lingus became fully Irish Government-owned through a new holding company called Aer Rianta. This change in ownership did not affect the close cooperation with West Coast (formerly Blackpool & West Coast), which launched its own Croydon–Baldonnel service on 19 April 1937 using DH86s and DH89 Rapides.
