Aer Lingus secures Manchster slots

MANCHESTER - IAG is moving Aer Lingus transatlantic flights from Shannon to Manchester amid Irish Covid-19 non-essential travel restrictions. The airline secured 1,500 slots at Manchester airport for the summer 2021 season and is expected to base three Airbus A321LR and one A330 for flights to the United States there.

The IAG airline struggles with tight Irish travel restrictions that kept the Airbus long range jets grounded since March and mulled withdrawing longhaul ops to the UK.

According to media reports, Aer Lingus secured 1,500 Manchester slots for S21 to be used for transatlantic flights. Aer Lingus is expected to base three A321LR for services to Boston and New York, while an A330 could serve longhaul routes to Florida or destinations on the US west coast.

The airline is also set to join the Oneworld alliance shortly to coordinate schedules with IAG and alliance partners.