Aer Lingus has started a collective-consultation process that could lead to the shutdown of its Manchester Airport long-haul base, threatening more than 200 cabin-crew and ground-handling positions less than four years after the Irish flag-carrier launched the operation.
In a memo to staff on 17 November the airline said the UK unit’s trans-Atlantic routes to New York, Orlando and Barbados “continue to under-perform” compared with services out of Dublin, and that prolonged crew strikes — triggered by a row over pay differentials with Dublin-based colleagues — have further eroded profitability.
![Aer Lingus signals possible closure of Manchester long-haul base, putting 200 jobs at risk]()
Management is examining “all options”, including redeploying two Airbus A330-300s back to Dublin next summer. Pilots seconded from Ireland would be offered repatriation, but Manchester-hired cabin crew and airport agents face redundancy if the base closes. Unite the Union has accused the company of union-busting, alleging that Aer Lingus used Dublin crews to break recent strike action.
For Irish business travellers the move would tighten capacity between north-west England and the US just as the peak Christmas season begins, potentially diverting passengers through Dublin or Heathrow. Travel-management companies are advising corporate clients with operations in the Northern Powerhouse region to lock in seats early and to budget for longer connection times via Ireland.
The consultation period runs for a minimum of 45 days. If closure is confirmed, Aer Lingus will need to secure UK Civil Aviation Authority approval to reallocate the A330s on the IAG network, but insiders say higher-yield North Atlantic demand out of Dublin makes redeployment highly likely.
In a memo to staff on 17 November the airline said the UK unit’s trans-Atlantic routes to New York, Orlando and Barbados “continue to under-perform” compared with services out of Dublin, and that prolonged crew strikes — triggered by a row over pay differentials with Dublin-based colleagues — have further eroded profitability.
Management is examining “all options”, including redeploying two Airbus A330-300s back to Dublin next summer. Pilots seconded from Ireland would be offered repatriation, but Manchester-hired cabin crew and airport agents face redundancy if the base closes. Unite the Union has accused the company of union-busting, alleging that Aer Lingus used Dublin crews to break recent strike action.
For Irish business travellers the move would tighten capacity between north-west England and the US just as the peak Christmas season begins, potentially diverting passengers through Dublin or Heathrow. Travel-management companies are advising corporate clients with operations in the Northern Powerhouse region to lock in seats early and to budget for longer connection times via Ireland.
The consultation period runs for a minimum of 45 days. If closure is confirmed, Aer Lingus will need to secure UK Civil Aviation Authority approval to reallocate the A330s on the IAG network, but insiders say higher-yield North Atlantic demand out of Dublin makes redeployment highly likely.
