The official opening of Dublin airport took place on Friday, January 19, 1940, when a Lockheed 14- WF62 Super Electra EI-ABV departed on its regular flight to Liverpool from the new base.
Packy Bourke, who had joined the airline from the Air Corps shortly before, was assigned to be at the airport at 06:00 to place heaters under the aircraft to prevent a false start.
The occasions was muted. The passengers boarding the aircraft were photographed. The Irish press described the event as the opening of Dublin’s newest airport.”
Just two days later flights were suspended and remained so until 12 February because Liverpool was unusable as a result of air attacks. Twice weekly operations on the Liverpool route continued subject to the hazards of war. Manchester was used when Liverpool was out of service. Aer Lingus eventually resumed its London service to Croydon in November 1945.
The terminal building had not been finished. Designed by Desmond FitzGerald, brother of the future Taoiseach (who was also an Aer Lingus employee) and son of a hero of the 1916 rebellion.
This remarkable building, prematurely labelled as a white elephant before it even opened, stood as a rare example of contemporary architecture in Ireland. I was to feature on an An Post stamp.
