Aer Lingus Considers Shutting Manchester Base, 200 Jobs at Risk

Aer Lingus is conducting a comprehensive review of its Manchester Airport base that could result in the complete withdrawal of long-haul services from the UK hub and place approximately 200 jobs at risk. The Irish carrier has entered formal consultation with employees and trade unions as it evaluates the future of an operation launched with considerable optimism just four years ago.

The Manchester base opened in 2021 as part of Aer Lingus’s strategy to tap into strong demand from North England travelers for transatlantic leisure routes. The facility currently supports three long-haul destinations—New York JFK, Barbados, and Orlando—alongside short-haul connections to Dublin and Belfast. The Orlando route has proven particularly popular with UK families visiting Walt Disney World.

However, in communications with staff later reported by The Irish Times, Aer Lingus acknowledged the operation has failed to meet financial 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,” the airline stated. “This situation has prompted a necessary consideration of the long-term viability of the Manchester base.”

The underperformance represents a significant challenge for the IAG-owned carrier, which has built a successful transatlantic operation from its Dublin hub. While Dublin benefits from geographic positioning as a gateway between Europe and North America, along with US preclearance facilities, Manchester’s performance suggests the economics of operating point-to-point transatlantic services from regional UK airports remain challenging.

Several factors may have contributed to the base’s struggles. The competitive landscape for transatlantic travel from Manchester includes established carriers and low-cost long-haul operators. Additionally, the post-pandemic recovery in business travel has been uneven, with leisure routes facing pressure from capacity additions and fluctuating demand patterns.

The consultation process will explore all scenarios, including complete base closure. If Aer Lingus proceeds with shutdown, the aircraft currently stationed at Manchester would likely be redeployed to strengthen more profitable routes, predominantly through the airline’s Dublin hub where its long-haul network remains most robust.

For Manchester Airport, losing Aer Lingus’s long-haul operation would represent a setback in its efforts to rebuild and expand transatlantic connectivity. The airport has worked to position itself as Northern England’s primary gateway for long-haul travel, reducing the need for passengers to connect through London or other European hubs.

The 200 jobs at risk include flight crew, cabin crew, and ground operations staff. The outcome of union consultations and any potential mitigation measures will be critical for affected employees.

Aer Lingus has not provided a specific timeline for a final decision, but resolution is expected following completion of the consultation process with trade unions and staff representatives. The situation highlights the ongoing challenges regional airports and carriers face in sustaining point-to-point long-haul operations outside major hub markets, particularly when competing against well-established hub-and-spoke networks.

Source ID: SRCE-2025-1764102480221-903