Aer Lingus set to shut down Manchester airport base

It puts a potential 200 jobs at risk.

The airline’s UK subsidiary provides transatlantic flights to the US and Caribbean.

Air Lingus hinted at a closure late last year and has been in talks with unions and Manchester based staff.

It is now progressing to talks with staff on ‘mitigating job losses.’

Aer Lingus said it would end sales for flights from Manchester to New York, Orlando and Barbados for travel beyond March 31.

The airline hasn’t specifically said the base would close but this is effectively the result once it ends flights that don’t transit Ireland.

“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,” Are Lingus said.

It isn’t expected to impact existing services between Ireland and Manchester.

“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,” an internal message to staff said.

The news to explore shutting down its base came after strike action by Aer Lingus staff in Manchester last year.