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.