Aer Lingus is reassessing the future of its operating base at Manchester Airport (MAN), a move that could see the Irish carrier withdraw all long-haul services from the UK hub just four years after launching the operation. The review places around 200 jobs at risk, as the airline begins a formal consultation with staff and trade unions.
The Manchester base, opened in 2021, was created to tap into the strong North England demand for transatlantic leisure travel. The base currently supports Aer Lingus long-haul routes to New York (JFK), Barbados (BGI), and Orlando (MCO), along with short-haul flights to Dublin (DUB) and Belfast (BFS). Aer Lingus’s service to Orlando, which is widely used by UK holidaymakers travelling to Walt Disney World, would be among the first to disappear if the base closes.
In a communication shared with employees and later reported by The Irish Times, Aer Lingus acknowledged that the operation had not met expectations.
“Despite all of the work and best efforts of the team, the Manchester long-haul operating margin performance continues to significantly lag behind that of Aer Lingus’s Irish long-haul operating margin. This situation has prompted a necessary consideration of the long-term viability of the Manchester base,” Aer Lingus wrote.
The airline has now entered a collective consultation process, which will explore every scenario, including a complete shutdown of the base.
If Aer Lingus decides to close the base, the airline is expected to redeploy the aircraft currently stationed at Manchester to more profitable routes, likely through Dublin, where its long-haul network currently remains strongest.
The airline has not provided a timeline for the final decision, but it is expected to follow meetings with staff and the conclusion of the consultation process with trade unions.
