I sat down with Dave to discuss the mechanics of this transformation. We explored how Aer Lingus is moving past legacy to a fully digitally led customer experience, and why he believes the secret to AI success is data literacy.

Aly McGue: Aer Lingus is 90 years old. That is an incredible milestone, but it also comes with the challenge of legacy systems and processes. How are you framing the company's mission today in the context of a rapidly evolving digital landscape?

Dave O’Donovan: It’s a fascinating time for us. Aer Lingus is Ireland’s window to the world. We have a massive short-haul network across Europe, and we’re actually the second-largest European carrier on the North Atlantic by US destinations served. But being 90 years old means we have systems and mindsets that have matured over decades.

Our mission now is to maintain that famous “warm welcome” and caring brand identity while meeting the expectations of a traveler who is more digitally savvy than ever and wants premium experiences. That forces us to ask: How do we offer a self-service, digital-first experience that still feels like Aer Lingus? The answer, invariably, is data.