At the 2004 European Regions Airline Association general assembly in Vienna, Aer Arann was presented with the Bronze Award in the 'Airline of the Year' category - the latest in a stream of accolades it has received since its re-launch in 2001 as a regional and international airline, Aer Arann's history dates back to a June evening in 1969 when Colie Hernon, an inhabitant of the Aran island of Inis M6r, wrote a letter to the Irish Times proposing that a small airline fly scheduled and air taxi services as an aerial lifeline for the thousands of people living on the three main Aran Islands of Inis M6r, Inis Meain and Inis Oirr. Among those who read his published letter were prominent Galway-based businessmen Ralph Langan, Jim Codd and Jimmy Coen, who carried out a study into the feasibility of such a service. The outcome of this analysis was Aer Arann, which launched its services on August 15, 1970, with a Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander. The airline operated scheduled flights from Carnmore (Galway) to the three main Aran Islands, which were supplemented by services from Shannon and Oranmore. On February 14, 1992, services were transferred from Galway to the new Connemara Regional airport (Inverin).
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