Passengers flying with Aer Lingus have been left furious and stranded after the Irish airline cancelled a series of transatlantic flights from Manchester at short notice, potentially triggering a compensation bill running into millions of pounds.
Widespread Disruption and Passenger Anger
The daily Aer Lingus service from New York to Manchester, flight EI44, finally operated on the morning of Thursday, 15 January 2026. This marked its first departure in a week, following repeated cancellations which the airline blamed on "technical and operational issues". Since early December, thousands of travellers on the Manchester-New York route and the Manchester-Orlando EI45 service have seen their plans upended with minimal warning.
One frustrated passenger, Simon Williams, took to social media platform X to vent, writing: "@AerLingus Absolutely disgusting customer service from you!! We have had no email to tell us that you had cancelled our flights from America. When my wife phoned you up, a very rude man hung up on her..."
Most affected passengers have been rebooked onto connecting flights via Aer Lingus's hub in Dublin, often arriving at their destinations over two hours late. Under UK air passenger rights regulations (UK261), travellers on cancelled flights are entitled to hundreds of pounds in compensation. If every eligible passenger claims, the total cost to the airline could reach millions of pounds.
Compensation Rules and Conflicting Advice
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the UK's aviation regulator, has clear rules. Andrew McConnell, its deputy director of communications, stated: "If a flight is cancelled, passengers should be offered a refund or alternative travel arrangements at the earliest opportunity. This can include flights on other airlines, or a new flight at a convenient date."
This contrasts with guidance found on the Aer Lingus website, which suggests passengers can rebook on "our next available flight" rather than the fastest option with any carrier, and warns that "a fare difference may apply".
Further confusion awaits those with forward bookings. Aer Lingus has begun a consultation on closing its transatlantic base at Manchester Airport and has stopped selling tickets for flights from late March 2026 onwards. This leaves existing customers in limbo.
Steven Allan, who has a booking for Manchester to New York in June, told The Independent: "They said they can't refund me or rebook me because as it stands the flights have not been cancelled. Really frustrating circular discussion." The airline says passengers with bookings from April 2026 can contact them to request a refund or reaccommodation.
Base Closure Threat and Union Backlash
The potential closure of the Manchester base, established in late 2021, puts around 200 jobs at risk, including 125 cabin crew and 40 pilots. An internal staff circular cited by the Irish Independent revealed the base, while profitable, operates at "significantly below" the margins of other parts of the Aer Lingus business.
The Unite union, which represents cabin crew, has strongly condemned the move. Its general secretary, Sharon Graham, called the plan "simple economic vandalism" and a "complete disregard for its loyal workforce". Unite is now balloting members on industrial action, with strikes that could cause major disruption on long-haul routes potentially beginning in late February.
This latest turmoil follows a series of strikes by Aer Lingus cabin crew over pay last autumn, which disrupted thousands of passengers. The combination of operational issues, potential base closure, and threatened industrial action paints a bleak picture for travellers relying on the airline's transatlantic services from the north of England.
