Aer Lingus is moving closer to closing its base at Manchester Airport, putting around 200 jobs at risk after the company concluded that efforts to improve the operation’s margins were no longer viable.
The Irish airline has told staff it will begin formal consultations in the coming days on “mitigating job losses that would occur in the event of a base closure”, while also confirming it will stop selling tickets on its long-haul routes from Manchester after March 31.
Flights from Manchester Airport to New York JFK, Orlando and Barbados will no longer be available to book after this date, a move which industry sources say strongly suggests base closure.
Although Aer Lingus has not officially confirmed the closure, internal communications from employees underline the airline’s position. While its Manchester operation is profitable, Aer Lingus said its margins are “well below” those achieved elsewhere in the industry.
“The airline has examined various options to increase margin at the Manchester site, but unfortunately these options do not appear to be viable to date,” the airline told employees in a memo.
Flights between Ireland and Manchester operated by Aer Lingus and Aer Lingus Regional are not affected.
The Manchester base, operated by Aer Lingus’ UK subsidiary, employs around 200 people, including almost 130 cabin crew, and operates transatlantic flights with two aircraft. Employees have been told they may be offered opportunities to transfer elsewhere within Aer Lingus or its parent group IAG, which also includes British Airways and Iberia, or the possibility of redundancy.
The possible closure follows months of industrial tensions at the grassroots level. Cabin crew represented by Unite went on strike in October and November over a dispute over pay, while Aer Lingus also clashed with the Irish Airline Pilots’ Association over employment issues affecting Manchester-based pilots.
Unite reacted angrily to the latest developments, accusing the airline of “economic vandalism” and warning of further disruption if the proposals were implemented.
Aer Lingus reported an operating profit of €135 million for the three months to June 2025, up almost 50 per cent on the previous year, and Unite claims its Manchester routes were expected to make a profit of around £35 million. The airline has acknowledged the base is profitable but argues it performs worse compared to its long-haul Irish network.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “This is a profitable base and Aer Lingus’ plans to close it show a complete disregard for its loyal workforce.”
The union says it has repeatedly requested Manchester-specific financial data to justify the planned closure, which it says the airline has not yet provided. Unite is currently voting on industrial action. Voting ends on January 26th and possible strikes begin at the end of February.
John O’Neill, Unite regional officer, said: “No stone can be left unturned when it comes to exhausting all options to keep the base operational and maintain jobs. Unite will not give in without a fight.”
For Aer Lingus, the situation highlights the growing pressure airlines face as labor disputes, operating costs and margin expectations collide. The coming weeks are set to be crucial for Manchester Airport and the region’s aviation workforce.
