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Your support makes all the difference.<\/strong>Read more<\/p>\n Tens of thousands of passengers booked on transatlantic flights from Manchester airport<\/a> have had their travel plans torn up after Aer Lingus<\/a> confirmed the closure of its base. Around 200 staff will be affected, the majority of them cabin crew.<\/p>\n The final flights will return to the northwest England hub on the morning of 31 March \u2013 but the New York<\/a> link will close before that.<\/p>\n The Irish airline\u2019s statement reads: \u201cA decision has been taken to cease Aer Lingus\u2019 Manchester transatlantic operations as of and from 31 March 2026. Manchester-New York operations will cease from 23 February 2026.<\/p>\n \u201cAer Lingus plans to operate a service from Dublin to Barbados<\/a> (subject to receipt of necessary approvals) during the months of April and May to reaccommodate affected customers.<\/p>\n \u201cWe understand that this is disappointing news and apologise for the disruption to our customers.<\/p>\n \u201cAll impacted customers are being informed of the cancellation of flights directly and provided with reaccommodation and refund options.\u201d<\/p>\n Earlier in January Aer Lingus revealed it was consulting with staff on the possible closure of the Manchester operation, and said it was taking flights off sale to prevent more passengers booking.<\/p>\n Travellers whose flights are cancelled are entitled to be flown to their destination \u201cvia the same route\u201d, according to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).<\/p>\n