Aer Lingus considers closing Aer Lingus UK

At the end of last month, Aer Lingus has announced it is considering closing its Manchester-based subsidiary Aer Lingus UK. It has given formal, legally mandated, notice to the unions of its potential closure.

The step comes after the airline and the unions have been in conflict over new contracts, which saw staff striking in October and November 2025. Aer Lingus isn't happy with the operational performance of its UK-unit, saying they might find better and more profitable use for the aircraft at the mainline.

According to Aer Lingus, all options are still on the table. If the subsidiary is to be closed, up to 200 staff will be impacted and, most likely, be out of a job.

Aer Lingus UK was established in 2021 and launched flights in October of that year. Initially with one Airbus A330-300, which was later accompanied by an A321-200NX. In 2023, the A321neo was replaced by another A330-300. It currently flies from Manchester to New York-JFK (NY), Orlando-International (FL) and Bridgetown (seasonal).

Photo by Anton Homma.