Transatlantic passengers on Aer Lingus from Manchester will be hit by a four-day cabin crew strike from 30 October to 2 November.
Members of the Unite union who crew flights from the northwest hub will walk out in a dispute over pay and allowances. Most or all flights from the northwest hub to New York, Orlando and Barbados are expected to be grounded. The routes are all nonstop to and from Manchester.
The 130 cabin crew have rejected a pay rise of nine per cent this year and three per cent in 2026. The union says: “While they recognise this seems like a high number, the reality is that base salaries are so low workers have struggled to afford basics such as housing and bills.
“Many have also taken on second jobs or worked large amounts of overtime to try and make up for the shortfall in pay, leaving them at risk of stress and burnout.”
Unite’s general secretary Sharon Graham said: “It is completely unacceptable that hard working staff at such a profitable airline are unable to afford the basics while senior management are making millions. Unite will not stand for it.”
Besides the issue of basic pay, the union says that a proposed £11 increase in the overnight allowance for cabin crew abroad is insufficient.
For transatlantic cabin crew, hotels, plus transport to and from the airport, are already paid by Aer Lingus. The tax-free allowance covers dinner, breakfast and incidentals.
The Irish airline has offered crew have a 13 per cent rise this year from $115 (£86) to $130 (£97), with a further 12 per cent increase in 2026. That would take the cash payment to $145 (£108).
But Unite says: “Crew based in Manchester have far lower flying allowances than their colleagues based in Dublin.”
A spokesperson for the airline said: “Aer Lingus notes with disappointment the outcome of the ballot for industrial action by cabin crew on its UK transatlantic routes.
“Aer Lingus negotiated in good faith with the Unite trade union having regard to benchmarked market pay in the UK. Aer Lingus and Unite reached agreement on two separate comprehensive and market competitive pay deals which Unite then recommended to its members, the latter being based on a recommendation following a detailed conciliation process at Acas.
“In this context, it is very disappointing that Unite has served notice of industrial action over the period 30 October through to the end of 2 November which will be very disruptive to our customers flying between Manchester and each of New York, Orlando and Barbados.
“Aer Lingus will now focus on communicating directly with impacted customers with a view to reaccommodating them where possible and minimising the disruption caused to them.”
Under air passengers’ rights rules, travellers whose flights are cancelled are entitled to be flown to their destination as soon as possible on any airline that has seats available.
The stoppage does not affect the main Aer Lingus operation to and from Dublin. Services to and from the Irish capital were badly hit in the summer of 2024 by a pilots’ strike over pay, with dozens of flights cancelled each day.
