08/01/2026
BREAKING PLANE NEWS!
Aer Lingus Pulls the Plug on Transatlantic Flights From Manchester
Big news for Northern flyers.
Aer Lingus has paused sales of all transatlantic flights from Manchester Airport from 31 March 2026
a move that strongly suggests the end of its UK long-haul base.
Routes affected:
❌ Manchester – New York JFK
❌ Manchester – Orlando
❌ Manchester – Barbados
These flights formed the core of Aer Lingus UK, launched in 2021 as a bold attempt to bring long-haul flying back to the North of England.
The airline says it’s in a “period of uncertainty” around Manchester long-haul, with sales now stopped. Regional flights to Ireland (via Dublin or Belfast) will continue and most passengers will likely be rerouted that way.
Behind the scenes, sources suggest:
• The Manchester base underperformed versus Irish hubs
• Long-haul margins Lagged behind Dublin Routes
• Crew pay disputes and strikes didn’t help
If you’re booked:
✔️ Don’t panic-cancel
✔️ Wait for Aer Lingus to contact you
✔️ You’re entitled to rerouting or a refund under EU261
Could another airline step in? Possibly, but with cooling transatlantic leisure demand, I’m sceptical of a simple replacement.
💬 What do you think? end of an experiment, or a missed opportunity for the North?
Mr Plane Guy
