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Aer Lingus
Aer Lingus
If you’re flying from Manchester to begin a magical Walt Disney World holiday in the next few months, this is a developing news story you may want to keep an eye on. Almost 130 Aer Lingus UK staff based at Manchester Airport are currently being balloted for strike action. This means that there is a strong chance of travel disruption later this month, potentially right across October half term. Hold on to your plans, as they may be affected.
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What’s Happening?
Aer Lingus staff members who are part of the trade union Unite, including both check-in staff and cabin crew, have rejected a 12 per cent pay offer over two years from Aer Lingus. They are now moving towards strike action to get a deal they feel is better.
Now, while that figure may sound generous to some on paper, workers are saying that their base pay is so low that even with the increase, many are still struggling to afford life essentials such as rent, bills, and groceries. It is reported that some employees have taken on second jobs or are taking on excessive overtime, leading to concerns about burnout.
"While Aer Lingus senior management are greedily lining their pockets, hardworking members of staff are left struggling to afford the basics."
The union says there’s also growing anger at pay disparity between UK-based and Dublin-based crews. Workers in Manchester say their Irish colleagues receive far more favourable allowances when flying long haul routes.
One worker said:
"Every time I check into a hotel on seeing the check in sheet with the vast difference in allowances compared to our Dublin colleagues it saddens me, as I feel as if we are somehow less worthy to be treated equally."
When Could Strikes Happen?
The ballot for strike action opened this week and will close on 13th October.
If the majority vote in favour, strike action could begin as soon as late October. This means some strike action will likely coinciding with the half-term holiday period. This is one of the busiest times of the year for UK families travelling to Orlando to experience the Halloween fun in the states. Other long-haul destinations will also be affected.
Why It Matters For Orlando and Disney Travellers?
Aer Lingus is a major passenger carrier at Manchester Airport’s Terminal 2, operating daily flights to Dublin, as well as daily flights to Florida.
For many UK Disney visitors, Aer Lingus is a go-to airline. Especially favoured by some travellers who opt to fly to Dublin first to be able to pre-clear US immigration before catching their Orlando flight.
If strike action goes ahead, flights could face delays or even cancellations as staffing levels will be reduced.
What Can You Do If You Have A Flight Booked?
At this time, it’s a wait and see what happens, but here are out tips if your October 2025 Disney World holiday plans involve an Aer Lingus flight from Manchester:
Keep an eye on your flight booking: log into your Aer Lingus app regularly to keep an eye out for any flight changes.
Register for updates by text or email in the app if you haven’t already got that set up.
If you booked a package holiday or with a travel agent they will be able to support you if the strike happens and it affects your flights
Make sure you have travel insurance
Be prepared to be flexible with your plans on travel day.
Most importantly, do not worry and panic.
Travel disruptions can happen for any number of reasons, so don’t let this news spoil your excitement or cause any sleepless nights. We’ll be keeping an eye on the situation and updates will be appearing here and on our socials, so make sure you’re subscribed.
What Happens Next?
The strike ballot closes on 13th October, so news should be out shortly afterwards about when and if strike action will take place. If strikes are confirmed, disruption could begin just after half term starts, so traveller with late October or early November departures should keep a close eye on updates.
The airline has been urged to return to negotiation to reach an improved pay offer in order to prevent disruption.
For couples and families heading to Walt Disney World from the UK, this is a story worth watching closely. While no flights have been affected yet, the potential for disruption is possible. We’ll continue to monitor the situation and share updates.