Why Is Aer Lingus Stopping Transatlantic Flights From Manchester Airport?

The Aer Lingus situation at Manchester Airport has been rumbling on for months, causing stress for thousands of passengers booking and flying with the carrier. Now a decision has been made and it is confirmed that transatlantic services from Manchester will be stopping, we are looking at why this has happened and the timeline of events, including the upcoming closure.

The Timeline To Closure

Beginning of October 2025: Aer Lingus based Manchester staff balloted for strike action

13th October 2025: Ballot closes.

16th October 2025: Unite announce there’s been a vote for strike action; strike dates announced as 30th October to 2nd November 2025.

24th October 2025: Unite announce there will be further strike dates added: 9th - 11th November 2025, 14th November 2025, and 16th - 18th November 2025.

30th October - 2nd November: First strike dates at Manchester impacting Half Term flights

7th November 2025: Aer Lingus state that the Manchester base is under performing and not a place to invest in.

9th - 11th November 2025: Strike

14th November 2025: Strike

16th - 18th November 2025: Strike

17th November 2025: Aer Lingus hold staff briefing to announce it is entering into a collective consultation process, that included deciding the future of the base.

24th November 2025: Unite issue statement in anger in response to potential closure, announcing further strike action is paused

1st January 2026: 45 day consultation period ends

8th January 2026: Aer Lingus pause sales of all transatlantic flights from 31st March 2026

9th January 2026: Unite ballot for further strike action - result currently unknown

28th January 2026: Aer Lingus announce closure of transatlantic routes from Manchester Airport and the loss of around 200 jobs

23rd February 2026: Flights to New York stop.

31st March 2026: Flights to Orlando and Barbados stop.

Why Is Air Lingus No Longer Flying To Florida From Manchester Airport?

The decision looks to be purely financial. While the flights were popular with holidaymakers, (we know many of you loved them!), Aer Lingus has stated that their Manchester base simply wasn't making enough profit compared to their main hub in Dublin.

In official statements released in January 2026, the airline cited a "period of uncertainty" regarding the future of their Manchester base. To avoid last-minute cancellations later in the year, they decided to suspend sales. Essentially, they can make more money by moving those planes back to Ireland to fly transatlantic routes from Dublin instead.

What Led To The Decision: What We Know

There appear to be three key underlining reasons behind this decision:

1. Financial running costs at Manchester Airport vs Dublin

2. A wider strategic plan

3. Industrial disputes

Let’s take a look at each reason in a little more detail.

Financial Costs

In early November, in an interview with the Irish Times, Lynne Embleton said:

Shortly after this quote went to press, an announcement was made to staff at Manchester Airport that a consultation period was beginning to discuss the future of the transatlantic base.

Strategic Planning

Industry analysts suggest that Aer Lingus is refocusing its strategy to strengthen Dublin as a major transatlantic "super-hub." By moving the aircraft back to Ireland, they can:

• Feed more passengers through their US Pre-Clearance facility in Dublin (a huge selling point).

• Consolidate their fleet in one location, making maintenance and crew scheduling cheaper and easier.

An "Unofficial" Context: Industrial Dispute

While Aer Lingus has officially stated the decision was purely financial, there has been significant friction behind the scenes from strikes and disputes to fleet disruptions and flight cancellations.

The Manchester base has been plagued by industrial action and pay disputes with unions since last Autumn. In October 2025, news broke that Manchester based transatlantic staff, represented by Unite, were unhappy with the pay situation and that there appeared to be a pay discrepancy between staff based in Ireland and staff based in Manchester. This led to strike action being initiated, which escalated to more strike dates quickly.

There was also a pilot dispute and vote of no confidence in management.

The "uncertainty" mentioned in their press releases likely refers to the difficulty of running a reliable schedule when facing potential strikes. Closing the base removes this headache of uncertainty entirely for the airline.

How Long Have Aer Lingus Operated Transatlantic Flights From Manchester Airport?

If you are thinking that Aer Lingus hasn't been flying these routes for very long, you are absolutely right.

By the time the final flight departs on March 31, 2026, Aer Lingus will have operated its direct transatlantic base at Manchester for just under four and a half years.

In aviation terms, this was a very short experiment. Here is the exact timeline of their Florida service:

• The very first direct flight from Manchester to Orlando (MCO) took off on December 11, 2021. (Their Barbados route launched slightly earlier in October 2021).

• For roughly four years, they have provided crucial competition to Virgin Atlantic, often driving down prices for families heading to Disney and Universal..

• The final flights will operate on March 31, 2026, bringing the total service run to just 4 years and 3 months.

With Aer Lingus leaving, the history of low cost direct flights to Florida from the North is looking shaky. We saw Thomas Cook collapse in 2019, and now Aer Lingus exits in 2026

How This Affects Disney World and Florida Planning

Aer Lingus flights were seen by many UK travellers as the secret weapon for affordable Florida, Disney and Universal holidays. Their direct service from Manchester often undercut Virgin Atlantic, keeping prices competitive. With the route closure happening, the biggest immediate impact is on competition.

Aer Lingus acted as a price anchor, forcing other airlines to stay competitive.

Virgin Atlantic becomes the only airline flying direct from Manchester to Orlando International (MCO). Without a direct competitor on this specific route, dynamic pricing models will likely push fares up, especially during school holidays.

TUI flies direct from Manchester but to Melbourne Orlando (MLB). It’s further to Disney World and Universal destinations and is a seasonal service. They may see a surge in demand, so watch for their flight-only prices to creep up as they absorb the overflow of travellers from Manchester who refuse to fly indirect.

Disney World Travel Planning Options Now

With Aer Lingus pulling out of the direct market, here is who is left flying non-stop from Manchester to Florida:

• Virgin Atlantic: The primary option for direct flights from Manchester to Orlando International (MCO). They fly daily.

• TUI: Excellent for package holidays; they fly into Melbourne Orlando International (MLB), which is about an hour's drive from Disney/Universal, but often it’s a calmer airport experience.

The option to fly with Aer Lingus is also still available, but this would no longer be a direct flight to Florida.

You can also choose to make more of your travel experience by flying from other UK airports.

The Silver Lining: The "Dublin Advantage"

If you do choose to fly Aer Lingus via Dublin, it's not all bad news. In fact, many UK travellers prefer this indirect route for one massive reason: US Pre-Clearance.

In Dublin, you clear American immigration and customs while you are waiting for your connection. This often means a shorter wait when you land and a faster exit through the airport, and peace of mind with one less travel day step ticked off.

This service means that you effectively land in MCO as a domestic passenger. You skip those infamous immigration queues at MCO, grab your bags, and are on the first bus to Disney World while everyone else is still standing in line.

Magic In A Minute

The Aer Lingus closure appears to have been caused by three things: cost, future brand planning, and industrial action. As this airline ceases transatlantic operations from Manchester Airport, the shape of Disney travel planning has changed for many UK travellers. But, other options may appear in time.