Aer Lingus to cut 500 jobs throughout company

DUBLIN - Intense competition by Ryanair and in the transatlantic network increase margin pressure on Aer Lingus. The Irish IAG airline turns to job cuts. By the end of 2026, a voluntary redundancy scheme offers pay packages to 500 flying and non-flying employees to leave the company.

Aer Lingus is embarking on a cost-cutting programme. The Irish IAG airline strives to reduce its workforce by 500 employees by end of 2026, a nine percent dent in its headcount.

The redundancy programme targets 290 to 300 administrative roles, 130 to 140 cabin crew members and 70 pilots.

The airline is offering redundandy deals: Aer Lingus will pay five weeks' salary for each year of service. Payments are capped at 180,000 EUR for administrative and cabin crew staff, and 240,000 EUR for pilots.

Aer Lingus reported an operating profit of 142 million EUR for the third quarter of 2026, but is facing pressure from rising fuel costs and intense competition. To saveguard profit margins, the airline now plans to curb its flight capacity by six per cent.

Ryanair and transatlantic pain

"Ryanair have announced around 15 percent capacity increase for next summer, and that just keeps up the need for Aer Lingus to adapt to this new market reality", Aer Lingus CEO Lynne Embleton said. "We've had a lot of capacity come in across the Atlantic over the last couple of years, and short haul as well."