Overview
- Aer Lingus has removed from sale all Manchester long‑haul tickets for travel from 31 March 2026 on routes to New York JFK, Orlando and Barbados.
- The airline is in a collective consultation on the Manchester base’s future after saying its operating margins there lag Ireland‑based long‑haul performance.
- Internal messages outline possible phased reductions, redeployment opportunities within Aer Lingus or IAG, and potential severance arrangements.
- Roughly 200 jobs could be affected, and the Irish Airline Pilots’ Association says it will work with management to reduce potential redundancies.
- Customers are being contacted with cash refunds or rerouting options, often via Dublin, and the carrier notes EU261 rights apply while Manchester–Ireland services continue unchanged.