Waterford’s role in birth of Ryanair to feature in new RTÉ documentary tonight

A new RTÉ documentary exploring the rise of Ryanair will shine a light on an often-forgotten Waterford connection to aviation history.

The two-part series Turbulence – The Story of Ryanair airs on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player, with the first episode broadcasting tonight, Monday, at 9.35pm.

The documentary charts the remarkable 40-year rise of Ryanair from a small start-up airline operating a single route to a giant of European aviation.

But the story begins much closer to home for Waterford.

The first ever Ryanair flight launched from Waterford Airport on July 8, 1985, when the airline was a tiny operation using a small single-turbo prop plane, hoping to attract local business travellers who wanted to avoid the drive to Dublin Airport when travelling to London.

The documentary also features Jenny and Justin Ryan, the son and daughter of Ryanair co-founder Christy Ryan, who recall how the airline’s first flight came about.

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They also speak about the excitement surrounding the launch, including VIP passengers who travelled on the inaugural flight, among them the mayor of Waterford at the time.

Turbulence – The Story of Ryanair traces the airline’s journey from its early days to its role in reshaping air travel across Europe.

The series features insiders, commentators and former staff, lifting the lid on how Ryanair cracked the low-cost airline model and built what is now one of the continent’s largest aviation companies.

Episode one explores the airline’s origins, from a single-route airline funded by aviation entrepreneur Tony Ryan, to a disruptive force that changed the way millions of Europeans travel.

The first episode airs on RTÉ One tonight, March 16 at 9.35pm, with the second episode then airing on Monday, March 23 at 9.35pm.