Aer Lingus job cuts: up to 500 roles after profit slump

It will also shrink its flying capacity

As operating profits fell 57% in the first nine months of the year, Aer Lingus is planning job cuts of up to 500 roles.

Chief executive Lynne Embleton has confirmed that the airline plans to cut up to 500 jobs and shrink its flying capacity by 6%

The operating profit of Aer Lingus dropped to €108 million from €250 million over that period.

Embelton told the Irish Times that third-quarter profit alone came to €142 million, down €28 million on last year.

He also revealed that increased competition on the North Atlantic route “has fundamentally changed our operating environment”.

What the Aer Lingus job cuts involve

According to Aer Lingus, the proposed reductions affect up to 500 roles across the business and remain subject to consultation.

The airline will, alongside the job losses, cut flying capacity by 6% and remove lower-margin routes as part of a wider redesign of its network.

Management, unions and staff must “work together constructively” to adapt to the new competitive landscape, Embleton said.

Fuel and competition costs behind the squeeze

The airline pointed to sharply higher fuel costs, along with increased supplier and carbon charges, as the main drags on its margin this year.

In the meantime, it expects those pressures to continue through its seasonally weaker quarters and into 2027.

According to RTÉ, the airline is also rolling out high-speed Starlink wifi across its fleet and will retrofit ten Airbus A330 cabins with premium economy seating next year to help boost revenue.

In the third quarter, passenger numbers still rose by 1.8%, compared with a year earlier.

However, competitive pricing meant little of that growth reached the bottom line.

How many jobs will Aer Lingus cut?

Up to 500 roles are proposed for reduction, a number Aer Lingus says remains subject to ongoing consultation with unions.

Why are Aer Lingus profits falling?

Aer Lingus said that increased competition on the North Atlantic, combined with higher fuel, supplier and carbon costs, has cut the airline's operating margin this year.

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