Aer Lingus 45-Day Consultation on Manchester Base Closure Ends

As the New Year bells fade, a critical deadline has quietly passed. Today, 1st January, 2026, marks the official end of the statutory 45-day consultation period regarding the potential closure of the Aer Lingus base at Manchester Airport.

For thousands of families with holidays booked to Walt Disney World this summer, the waiting game has entered its final, and most nerve-wracking phase. A decision on the future of Aer Lingus base at Manchester Airport is imminent, and should happen this month.

The 45-Day Countdown: A Timeline

The uncertainty began on 17th November 2025, when Aer Lingus formally notified trade unions, including Unite, of its proposal to close its UK base due to unsustainable operating margins. Under UK employment law, (Trade Union and Labour Relations Act 1992), a proposal putting 200+ jobs at risk triggers a mandatory minimum consultation period of 45 days.

Despite the Christmas break and recent Bank Holidays, the legal clock does not pause for festivities. The statutory window has officially closed as of today, leaving the airline legally free to make a final decision on the base's future.

Did Christmas Buy More Time?

While the legal period has technically ended, sources suggest we might not get an immediate announcement today.

Although weekends and Bank Holidays count toward the 45-day total, the practical reality of negotiating over the festive period often leads to delays. If unions argued that "meaningful consultation" couldn't happen while key staff were on Christmas leave, the airline might voluntarily delay their final statement by a few days, or even weeks, to finalise terms.

However, make no mistake: the protective window is now effectively closed.

What's at Risk?

Three Routes: The Manchester (MAN) to Orlando (MCO) direct service, the Manchester (MAN) to New York (JFK), and Manchester (MAN) to Barbados (B

Two Aircraft: Two Airbus A330s currently based at Terminal 2.

Hundreds of Jobs: Over 200 pilots, cabin crew, and ground staff facing potential redundancy or relocation.

Advice for Travellers

If you are holding tickets for Summer 2026:

• Don’t cancel your bookings: If you cancel now, you rick losing your money and it’s all just speculation until a final decision is made by the airline. If the airline cancels the route later, you are entitled to a full cash refund or re-routing (likely via Dublin or a partner airline).

• Don’t buy into hype on Social Media, it’s stressful, just know the facts. This situation is out of your control.

• Keep an eye on your inbox for official notifications: With the consultation over, an operational update is imminent and if you have a flight booked, you should be notified of change.

• Check your insurance: Ensure your travel insurance covers airline failure or major schedule changes, just in case and to give yourself some peace if mind.

While a decision has not yet been announced, many travellers and trip planners are facing uncertainty, and for Disney World holiday makers it is unsettling when you’re heading off on your once in a lifetime trip. What’s more this uncertainty falls during popular holiday booking season, so the question of whether to book flights with Aer Lingus from Manchester Airport is a decision you’ll need to make yourself. The future is unknown, but unknown does not necessarily mean closure.

We’ll be sure to let you know more as this story inevitably develops over the coming weeks