Aer Lingus is planning to shut down the commercial operations at Belfast City Airport following its ceasing of flights on the Belfast to Heathrow citing Brexit issues.
Aer Lingus discontinued its Belfast to Heathrow service in October 2022 as its air operator's license expired, but it was a temporary issue since the flights between the two cities continue to operate.
Going ahead, an Aer Lingus spokesperson confirmed to Belfast telegraph that the airline’s plans to officially cut the route next year, “We have therefore advised our Belfast-based staff of the likelihood that we will have to cease our Belfast-London Heathrow operation, which we have operated for 15 years, with effect from March 26, 2023, leading to the closure of our Belfast base. We have now commenced consultations with our employees and their representatives, beginning with a meeting on Wednesday, where we explained the circumstances that have given rise to the current situation."
The airline will continue to operate scheduled flights till March 25, 2023 till the end of winter schedule. Going ahead, if the route is officially cut off, the airline will inform the affected passengers and offer alternative flight or a refund, the airline confirmed in a statement.
"As an EU carrier, regulatory changes arising from the withdrawal of the UK from the EU, have had an impact on Aer Lingus' traffic rights as a carrier within the UK market and, in particular, on the operation by Aer Lingus of the Belfast-London Heathrow route,” the airline said in a statement.
"Despite constructive discussions with the relevant authorities in the UK, we have, to date, been unable to identify a viable solution,” the airline added.
Meanwhile, about 30 employees of Aer Lingus might lose their jobs due to this closure. Aer Lingus said that it was consulting union representatives and employees to make as many options available in case we decide to close our Belfast base. The airline will even try and transfer the employees to another base to avoid redundancies, the airline confirmed.
Going ahead, there has been no disruption in the schedule as British Airways has been carrying passengers on Aer Lingus's Belfast-Heathrow for the past few weeks. The Spokeswoman for Belfast City Airport has confirmed that passengers have been booking with Aer Lingus but then travelling on BA planes as BA runs the same number of flights at exactly the same times.
The Belfast airport hopes that BA would continue to operate the route if the Aer Lingus closure goes ahead.