It was not until after a few months in operation, when Iona National Airways flights became frequent and after Baldonnel was no longer seen as a location for civil aviation, that the licence was granted.

The site was approximately 3 miles from his garage, making it easy to service aircraft back at base, at Cross Guns Bridge.

Iona National Airways operated out of Kildonan for two years until mid 1933, when Cahill's attentions were re-focused on his motor business.

Despite this, two other airlines were to operate from Kildonan, including Dublin Air Ferries (DAF), which was run and owned by the noted aviator Lady Mary Heath and her husband, Jack Williams.

Pearse did not rush into creating a modern airline, possibly because the money he received from his father to do other things (especially not to fly) may not have been enough to buy larger aircraft.

[citation needed] These factors led to the liquidation of Iona National Airways Limited in 1995, having flown its last flight on 14 December 1994.