Aer Lingus has stopped selling tickets for its transatlantic services from Manchester due to “a period of uncertainty” about the future of its base at the UK airport.
In a statement, the IAG-owned Irish carrier said that it was no longer taking bookings for departures from 31 March 2026 on its routes from Manchester to New York’s JFK Airport, Orlando and Barbados.
The airline said the decision had been made to “minimise customer disruption in the event of a closure of the Manchester base”. It added that Aer Lingus and Aer Lingus Regional flights between Manchester and Ireland would not be affected by this decision.
“We appreciate our customers' patience and co-operation during this time, and we are contacting customers directly regarding their flights,” added Aer Lingus.
UK union Unite said that if Aer Lingus scrapped its base at Manchester, it would put 200 jobs “at risk”, including around 130 cabin crew.
“This has left workers with no clarity on the future of their jobs,” said Unite in a statement. “While the airline has admitted the Manchester base is profitable, it claims the base has underperformed compared to its Irish long-haul routes.”
Unite added that it would hold a ballot of its members on taking industrial action over Aer Lingus’ proposed base closure, with strikes potentially beginning in late February. Aer Lingus cabin crew members based at Manchester previously voted to take industrial action in October in a dispute over pay.
Aer Lingus set up a base at Manchester Airport in 2021, using single-aisle Airbus A321LR aircraft to offer transatlantic services to New York, with routes to Orlando and Barbados later being introduced.