Aer Lingus Considers Closing Manchester Airport Base, Threatening More than Two Hundred Jobs and Reducing New Long-Haul Services, Impacting its Aviation Sector

Published on December 15, 2025

In November 2025, Aer Lingus formally consulted on the potential closure of its MAN base-a move that could threaten more than 200 jobs. If approved, such a move would see the carrier’s direct services from Manchester to important US points like New York, Orlando, and Barbados end, significantly weakening long-haul connectivity from Northern England. It follows months of industrial unrest, including strike action by its Manchester-based cabin crew, and the airline’s conclusions that its long-haul flying out of Manchester has significantly underperformed its Irish base.

Strikes and Pay Disputes Drive the Review Process

The pay dispute between Aer Lingus and the Unite union, which represents Manchester-based cabin crew, has been a major factor in the airline’s decision to initiate the consultation. Crew members staged multiple strikes in October and November after rejecting a proposed pay deal, which offered a 9% pay rise in 2025 and 3% in 2026. The union argued that the base salaries, starting at £17,640, were not enough to cover the high cost of living in Manchester, and there was a significant pay disparity between UK-based and Dublin-based crew.

This dispute has added further complexity to Aer Lingus’ operational challenges at Manchester, leading to a review of its long-haul strategy and the potential closure of its Manchester base. The airline stated that the Manchester long-haul operation has failed to meet the performance levels of its Irish counterpart, thus triggering the consultation, which could result in redundancies across cabin crew, pilots, and ground staff.

Fleet Redeployment and Strategic Shift

Established in 2021, Aer Lingus UK operates two Airbus A330-300 aircraft from Manchester. However, with underperformance at the Manchester base, Aer Lingus is considering redeploying these aircraft to Dublin Airport (DUB), where the airline sees stronger transatlantic demand and higher feeder traffic. Experts suggest that this shift could allow the airline to better capitalize on Dublin’s network, making it more efficient and cost-effective.

Industry analysts predict that a closure of Aer Lingus UK could lead to a significant reduction in competition on Manchester–US routes, particularly with Virgin Atlantic, which operates alongside Aer Lingus on several transatlantic routes. If Aer Lingus moves its operations to Dublin, it would further concentrate the airline’s long-haul network at a single hub, potentially reshaping regional aviation dynamics.

Impact on Long-Haul Connectivity from Northern England

A closure of the Manchester base would not only lead to job losses but also significantly disrupt long-haul travel from Northern England. The reduction of direct flights to major US destinations would leave many travelers with fewer options for direct transatlantic flights. This would place greater pressure on London Heathrow and Manchester’s neighboring airports to accommodate the gap, potentially creating overcrowding and longer transfer times for passengers in the region.

This shift would mark a significant decline in the UK’s regional connectivity for long-haul travel, reinforcing the ongoing trend of consolidating long-haul flights at major hubs, often at the expense of regional airports. For the aviation industry at large, the trend could set a precedent for hub-and-spoke models dominating the future of long-haul routes, where airlines prefer to operate from more profitable and high-demand bases rather than regional airports with lower yields.

Union Criticism and Call for Financial Transparency

Unite has strongly criticized Aer Lingus’s handling of the consultation process, accusing the airline of using union-busting tactics amid the dispute. The union has demanded full financial transparency from the airline to justify the potential closure, questioning whether the airline has fully explored other alternatives to keep the Manchester base operational. The dispute highlights the growing tension between airline cost-cutting measures and the need to maintain fair working conditions for employees.

Future Impact on the Aviation Sector

The potential closure of Aer Lingus’ Manchester base is more than just a regional issue; it signals a shift in the broader aviation landscape. Airlines worldwide are increasingly consolidating operations at centralized hubs to maximize efficiency and profitability. As long-haul routes become more competitive, this trend could lead to further reductions in regional services as airlines seek to optimize their fleet utilization.

For Northern England, the loss of Aer Lingus’ direct transatlantic flights represents a significant blow to the region’s aviation sector and may influence future decisions about airport expansion and service offerings. Other regional airports might see reduced demand for long-haul flights, potentially leading to fewer carriers offering transatlantic routes and more passengers being funneled through larger airports like London Heathrow.

As global aviation continues to recover from pandemic-related disruptions, the future of regional airports in the UK and beyond may depend on how effectively they can adapt to the growing dominance of hub-and-spoke networks. The shift towards consolidated operations at major airports could impact local economies, particularly in areas reliant on tourism and business travel to the US.

Looking Ahead: The Future of UK Aviation and Regional Connectivity

The possible shutdown of the Aer Lingus UK base in Manchester will be a pivotal moment not only for the airline itself but also for the future of aviation throughout the UK. As airlines re-center their strategies toward hub airports and optimize long-haul operations, regional airports like Manchester may resort to seeking novel solutions to be able to remain competitive regarding long-haul flying in the years to come.

This may lead to a reconsideration of how airlines and airports work together in response to passenger demand but also consider operational costs. It is possible that regional airports will be less relevant to long-haul flying in the future, so local stakeholders will need to either adjust to the changes or be prepared for even fewer flight options. The outcome of the Aer Lingus consultation will be instructive in terms of the future shape of UK aviation, particularly regarding the longer-term prospects for regional hubs in an increasingly competitive and streamlined aviation market.

Image Source: Aer Lingus