Thousands of passengers booked on Aer Lingus flights from Manchester to the United States are facing significant disruption and a battle for their rights, as the airline considers closing its base at the airport. Despite the looming threat to services, the Irish carrier is refusing to rebook affected travellers onto convenient alternative flights operated by Virgin Atlantic, citing that the journeys have not yet been formally cancelled.
Passenger Rights at the Centre of the Dispute
Under UK air passenger rights regulations, specifically enforced by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), travellers whose flights are cancelled are entitled to be rerouted on another airline operating the same route. The CAA mandates that this alternative must be offered "on the same day as their original flight and via the same route." Virgin Atlantic operates near-identical nonstop services from Manchester to both New York JFK and Orlando, presenting a logical alternative for Aer Lingus customers.
However, passengers like John Fielding, who has business class seats to Orlando booked for May with his young family, have been flatly refused this option. "We are unable to rebook you on a Virgin Atlantic flight," was the response he received from Aer Lingus. Instead, the airline offered his party a refund or an inferior alternative: an economy flight to Dublin followed by a four-hour wait and a connecting business class flight to Orlando.
Aer Lingus's Controversial Stance on Cancellations
The core of the dispute lies in Aer Lingus's interpretation of the regulations. The airline insists that because no flights have been officially cancelled at this point, the passenger rights rules do not apply. A spokesperson stated, "Aer Lingus can confirm that in addition to re-routing on its own services it will also consider options on other airlines." Yet, in practice, requests for Virgin Atlantic flights are being denied, with one passenger told their case "is now closed."
This stance is at odds with the CAA's guidance. The authority's view is clear: if an airline cancelling a flight cannot provide a suitable replacement on the same day and route, it should seek options on alternative carriers. "If such a re-routing option is available, affected passengers should be offered the choice of this option," the CAA says. The Fielding family, having rebooked themselves on a Virgin Atlantic flight from London Heathrow at additional cost, are now seeking reimbursement from Aer Lingus.
Ongoing Uncertainty for Manchester Travellers
The situation stems from Aer Lingus's consultation on closing its Manchester base, potentially at the end of March 2026. The airline has already stopped selling seats on Manchester-US routes from that date. Operations have been severely disrupted recently, with a full week of flights between Manchester and New York JFK cancelled due to "technical and operational issues."
An internal staff circular, seen by the Irish Independent, revealed plans for a "phased reduction in the operation." For passengers, the advice from The Independent is to take no action until a final decision is made, as a formal cancellation would likely oblige Aer Lingus to purchase seats on Virgin Atlantic for affected travellers. A dedicated team is reportedly working on re-accommodation, with the airline advising customers they do not need to make contact proactively.
