I'm starting to think that, for Aer Lingus, the 747 was a status aeroplane to begin with but they grew to quite like it and made the best possible use of its versatility, capacity and attractiveness as a leasing aeroplane (along with its other Boeings). I'm sure there must have been opportunities in the early to mid 1970s for the company to purchase the TriStar or DC10 but they stuck faithfully with their their three jumbos. And, as was often the case with Aer Lingus, if they didn't have work for their aeroplanes, they would lease them to out to another carrier and make money from them that way.