Founded in 1936 during the earliest decades of commercial aviation, Aer Lingus has been the flag carrier of Ireland for nearly 90 years. Travelers often associate the airline with its bright green livery and very warm staff embodying stereotypical “Irish hospitality.”

Due to Ireland’s location west of the United Kingdom and mainland Europe, Aer Lingus is also an important connector for flights between Europe and North America. According to the airline, its network for 2026 includes flights to 26 destinations across the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean.

But even as Aer Lingus continues to look ahead with an expanded North American flight schedule, the airline has also launched the consultation process around closing one of its bases at Manchester Airport (MAN) in England.

As first reported by The Irish Times, a meeting between several of the airline’s executives and 200 staff at the base highlighted poor traffic numbers out of the airport.

Aer Lingus starts talks around shutting down hub at Manchester Airport

Along with flights to dozens of cities across Europe, Aer Lingus also flies direct routes from Manchester to New York’s JFK, Boston Logan (BOS), and Orlando International (MCO), as well as Grantley Adams International Airport (BGI) in Barbados.

“Despite all of the work and best efforts of the team, the Manchester long-haul operating margin performance continues to significantly lag behind that of Aer Lingus’s Irish long-haul operating margin,” a memo given to staff, as viewed by The Irish Times, read.

“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.”

Related: Airline to cancel all flights to country over geopolitical instability

Manchester Airport has also become the site of a recent four-day strike, after which workers at the base rejected a 9% pay rise after years of negotiations. The job action caused disruptions to over 7,500 passengers and 18 flights, including long-haul ones to New York and Barbados last October.

The short period of time between the strike and the movement around potentially exiting the base lead to criticism and speculation around Aer Lingus’ motivations. The Manchester hub has over 200 staff whose jobs are now at risk should the airline pull out.

Aer Lingus has been the flag carrier of Ireland since 1939.

Shutterstock

Aer Lingus memo brings up “the possibility of a base closure”

“Rather than continuing talks with the Unite Union over potential pay rises, the airline has now opened formal discussions on a collective consultation process that could see mass lay-offs,” writes flight attendant and airline commentator Mateusz Masczynski.

After news of the meeting went public, Aer Lingus CEO Lynne Embleton reiterated that the Manchester base was “not performing” well enough compared to the airline’s main hub at Dublin International (DUB).

More on travel:

  • Major airline launches surprising flight between Las Vegas and Paris
  • United Airlines CEO gives stark warning on Olympic Games
  • The highest rooftop in Barcelona is in a surprising place
  • US government issues sudden warning on Switzerland travel

The Manchester location was added as a secondary base in 2021, in response to the sudden bankruptcy of local vacation airline Thomas Cook.

“This process will explore all the options in respect of the base,” the memo reads further. “However, staff were also advised that it will also include the possibility of a base closure.”

Related: Airline launching 12 new flights to European destinations