A major airline has cut long-haul flights from Manchester Airport, putting the jobs of 130 cabin crew at risk. From March 31, you will no longer be able to fly from the northern airport to Barbados, Orlando, and New York JFK.

Aer Lingus announced the decision in January, with Unite the Union confirming it would put 200 jobs at risk, including 130 cabin crew. The airline said its long-haul flights from Manchester Airport underperform compared to its Irish long-haul operations. An Aer Lingus spokesperson said: “Following a series of consultation meetings over November and December regarding the future of the Manchester base operated by Aer Lingus’s UK subsidiary (Aer Lingus UK), staff at Manchester were informed today that the process will now enter a phase of consultation for the purpose of mitigating job losses which would occur in the event of a base closure.

“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.

“We acknowledge that this is an uncertain and difficult time for our colleagues in Manchester and we will seek to ensure that colleagues are kept informed and supported,” reports The Sun.

They added: “We are also taking commercial steps to minimise customer disruption in the event of a closure of the Manchester base from which Aer Lingus UK operates transatlantic flights from Manchester to New York, Orlando and Barbados. 

“As part of this, Aer Lingus is no longer selling transatlantic flights to/from Manchester for travel from March 31, 2026.

“There is no impact on Aer Lingus or Aer Lingus regional flights between Manchester and Ireland.

“Customers already booked on Aer Lingus UK transatlantic services (New York, Orlando and Barbados) from Manchester from March 31 onwards and who are concerned about their travel arrangements will be offered a refund or re-accommodation options in due course. We appreciate our customers’ patience and cooperation during this time and we will be contacting customers directly regarding their flights.”

In a statement on Friday, Unite said: “While it has still not confirmed to Unite whether it will definitely close the base, Aer Lingus has said it will not be selling tickets for these routes beyond 31 March. This has left workers with no clarity on the future of their jobs.

“Aer Lingus is a very profitable airline. In 2025, it reported an operating profit of €135 million for the three months to June, up nearly 50 per cent compared to the same period last year.”

Unite said it would ballot its members on taking industrial action over the proposals. The ballot closes on January 26, with Unite saying strikes could begin in late February.

Aer Lingus cabin crew took action over pay, resulting in disruptions to flights in 2025.

Delays and hundreds of passengers were flown to Dublin for connecting flights to the US and Barbados.