Aer Lingus begins job loss talks with staff in Belfast over UK flights affected by Brexit rules

Despite “extensive discussions” with UK authorities, it “was unable to find a solution that would allow us to continue operating the service on a viable basis,” it told staff in a letter last week.

Aer Lingus wrote to the UK Department for Transport last week “to update them on these developments and to confirm our readiness to discuss the matter further with them”.

With 30 Belfast-based staff, it has begun a consultation process resulting from regulatory changes related to Brexit, meaning it will not be able to serve UK domestic routes with EU-registered aircraft.

“Regulatory changes resulting from the UK’s withdrawal from the EU have impacted Aer Lingus’ traffic rights as an EU airline in the UK market and in particular how Aer Lingus operates our Belfast-London Heathrow route.” said the letter.

Staff have been told Aer Lingus is expected to cease operations on the route, which it has served for 15 years, by March 26. The issue will not affect Aer Lingus’ regional flights operated by Emerald Airlines, which has an extensive network out of Belfast.

The airline’s letter said it was working with unions to “make available as many options as possible in the event of our Belfast base being closed, including moving to another base to address the potential need for a number of.” Layoffs with us minimize staff from Belfast”.

A well-placed source said the staff have been offered a transfer to Dublin, a job in a Belfast office or a layoff.

The airline is also struggling at its Manchester base, although services there are not believed to be threatened. However, sources said one of the two Manchester-based aircraft will need maintenance in January and to date Aer Lingus has not received approval from UK authorities to replace it with a Dublin-based aircraft.