Aer Arann is an essential service and a link between the islands and the mainland has served the three islands, Inis Meáin, Inis Mór and Inis Oirr since 1970. Built in 1970 it is still in operation seven days a week, operating three flights a day between the three islands.
The Aer Arann airplane company on Inis Meain employs six people on each island, keeping a vital and steady connection between island life and the mainland. It allows employees to maintain their lifestyle and to continue living in a remote area with a steady income on the Aran islands.
When Aer Arann was originally set up, it intended on trying to shift the reliance on ferries and offer greater availability and a more efficient way to travel. Due to rough seas and limited daylight during many gloomy winter days, it was put in place to speed up travel and be a dependable and affordable source of travel.
Pilot Diarmuid said “during bad weather it definitely gets more fun, it makes it more challenging, but when visibility is low and wind is too strong we unfortunately have to ground the plane”.
Now operating on the three islands, it has proved to be a successful business and an asset to all islands. Aer Arann struggles in winter with tourists but come summertime, booming business brings tourists to Inis Meáin and the surrounding islands which is crucial for the local economy and also livening up the island.
Aer Arann on Inis Meáin has a minimum of three flights a day but come summer it is extremely busy. It is said that 300,000 people visit the Aran Islands each year, although Inis Meáin is the quietest. According to Micheal (one of the staff ) it can get very busy during peak summer times. Talking to the pilot, he said “the busiest part of my day is usually the morning run, we've to check the weather, fill out paperwork and schedule flights if I've a last minute booking”.
Aer Arann use small nine seater planes and currently operates a fleet of three Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander aircraft. These small, robust planes are used for short-hop flights. Each island is equipped with its own airstrip, commuting on quick seven-minute journeys to and from each island to the local Inverin Airport located approximately 31km from Eyre square.
Aer Arann pilot Diarmuid loves his job and said, “I absolutely love the work, I am one of those fortunate people who enjoy going to work in the morning”.
Aer Arann is an affordable source of transport for all islanders living on the Aran Islands. Islanders get subsidised, keeping flights cheap. Prices are as follow. islanders are €37, non islands are €63. Students and over 65s on the island are €15.
