Manchester Airport could face disruption due to strikes

There will be an upcoming travel disruption at Manchester Airport (MAN) as almost 130 Unite members working for Aer Lingus UK are being balloted to take strike action. Workers, including check-in staff and cabin crew, have rejected a pay offer from Aer Lingus of 12 per cent over two years.

Why might there be strike action affecting Manchester Airport?

While the increase appears high on paper, base salaries remain so low that many staff cannot afford essentials such as rent, bills or groceries. Many have taken second jobs or are working excessive overtime to improve their wages, leaving them at risk of burnout.

Meanwhile, Aer Lingus recorded an operating profit of €205 million for 2024, while three top executives, including the chief executive and chief financial officer, received almost €2.8 million in core director remuneration. The airline served 11 million passengers in 2024, an increase of almost three per cent on the previous year.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “While Aer Lingus senior management are greedily lining their pockets, hardworking members of staff are left struggling to afford the basics. Unite will not stand idly by and let Aer Lingus put profits before people. Our members will have Unite’s full support throughout this dispute.”

One Aer Lingus worker said: “My housing circumstances have recently changed and it looks likely that I am going to lose my home and have to move back in with my parents as my wage is too low.”

There is also a stark pay disparity with colleagues in Dublin, where crew enjoy far more favourable down-route allowances. This two-tier approach is causing frustration and a deep sense of unfairness at the Manchester base.

One Aer Lingus worker said: “Every time I check into a hotel on seeing the check in sheet with the vast difference in allowances compared to our Dublin colleagues it saddens me, as I feel as if we are somehow less worthy to be treated equally. Flying to a destination such as America is not cheap, and as prices continue to rise the amounts offered to us do not reflect this. We can’t make healthy food choices as the UK workers constantly have to go with cheaper options.”

The ballot for strike action opened this week and will close on 13 October, with strikes potentially starting in late October to coincide with the half-term break.

Aer Lingus, the Irish flag carrier, is a major airline operating out of Manchester Airport’s Terminal 2. It operates several direct flights each day to destinations including Dublin, Boston and Barbados, meaning any strike action will be highly disruptive.

Unite regional officer John O’Neill said: “We recognise anyone with upcoming Aer Lingus flights will be concerned to hear of potential strikes and how it may impact their travel plans, but workers feel they have no choice but to ballot for industrial action to make their voices heard. Although on paper the company’s offer seems impressive, our members are telling us a very different story. Base pay is so low that people are struggling to cover essentials, for example we’ve had multiple reports of staff unable to afford their rent. Aer Lingus must come back to the table with an improved offer to avoid any disruption.”

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