Move will impact about 200 staff
An Aer Lingus jet at Manchester Airport. Photo: Getty
Aer Lingus is preparing to close its Manchester base after it stopped selling tickets for its transatlantic services from the city for travel beyond the end of March. It has told staff there it is proceeding with consultations that will aim to mitigate job losses in the event the base closes.
A closure would affect about 200 staff members at the operation, which Aer Lingus opened in 2021.
“While consideration of proposals for avoiding and/or reducing redundancies will continue, it is important to also address contingencies in the event that the base closes,” Aer Lingus said in a statement.
The airline, headed by chief executive Lynne Embleton, has previously insisted that the operating margin on its long-haul operations from the city continue to “significantly lag” those of the airline’s long-haul operation out of Ireland. It had initially entered talks with staff and unions back in November.
It operates services to Barbados, Orlando and New York from Manchester. However, it has now ceased selling tickets for those services for travel beyond March 31.
The decision will not affect Aer Lingus or Aer Lingus Regional flights between Manchester and Ireland.
“The airline has emphasised throughout the consultation process that whilst the Manchester base is profitable, the margins at the base are significantly below that in other comparable parts of Aer Lingus’ business,” the airline told staff in a circular on Wednesday seen by the Irish Independent.
It added: “During the consultation processes, the airline has explored various options for increasing the margin at the Manchester Base, but unfortunately to date these options do not appear to be viable.
“This is despite all of the committed work and best efforts of the Manchester team – a commitment that continues to be seen and is much appreciated, including throughout a Christmas period which has been very challenging from an operational perspective,” the airline told staff.
“It is our intention to consult over issues, such as what a phased reduction in the operation would look like, both in terms of dates and resourcing, what opportunities exist within Aer Lingus, or indeed within or outside of the IAG group for alternative employment and the possible terms of a severance package at the Manchester base including any arrangements in relation to notice,” the circular noted.
About 40 pilots are employed by Aer Lingus at Manchester. It’s understood that about 30 of those would be free to return to operations out of Ireland. The remainder were hired out of the UK, it’s understood.