Airline enters collective consultation process with unions over future of 200 staff based in the city
A closure would affect about 200 staff members at the operation.
The airline, headed by chief executive Lynne Embleton, has 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.
Aer Lingus operates direct services from Manchester to destinations in the Caribbean as well as New York.
In a note to Aer Lingus staff seen by the Irish Independent, the airline said that its executive team held a briefing with staff at Manchester today.
In the note, the airline confirmed the poor margin performance.
“This makes it difficult to justify further investment in the Manchester base and raises the question as to whether there are potentially better alternative uses of the two aircraft that are in the Manchester base,” it told staff.
It added: “This situation has prompted a necessary consideration of the long-term viability of the Manchester base.”
Aer Lingus chief executive Lynne Embleton. Photo: Naoise Culhane
News in 90 Seconds – 17 November 2025
Aer Lingus staff at the Manchester base have been advised that the airline will now enter a collective consultation process with their union representatives.
“This process will explore all the options in respect of the base, however, staff were also advised that it will also include the possibility of a base closure,” it warned.
“We acknowledge and fully appreciate that this is an uncertain and difficult time for colleagues based in Manchester and we will work closely with the management team and the staff in Manchester over the coming weeks, ensuring that they are kept fully informed and supported,” the note adds.
The Irish Airline Pilots’ Association, (IALPA) whose president is Aer Lingus pilot Mark Tighe, has received notification from Aer Lingus regarding the potential closure.
“The letter sets out that Aer Lingus wishes to engage with IALPA regarding potential redundancies due to the potential closure of the Manchester base and has requested a first collective consultation meeting,” it told members.
IALPA said the news is “very concerning”, and that it will update members later today.
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.
The Manchester base has been the focus of labour unrest among Aer Lingus staff there in recent weeks.
About 130 check-in staff and cabin crew working for the airline at Manchester have been staging rolling industrial action over a low pay claim. They had rejected an offer of a 12pc pay rise and a boost to their overnight US allowance.
Aer Lingus saw its third-quarter operating profit jump €31m to €170m, it said this month. The figure was equivalent to its performance in the third quarter of 2024 when the impact of a pilot strike is stripped out. For the first nine months of the year, it posted a €250m operating profit, compared to €148m in the corresponding period last year.