Aviation

Irish flag carrier Aer Lingus plans to slash 500 jobs and axe a slew of routes, citing increased competition and rising costs, which have prevented the Dublin-based airline from securing additional investment from its parent company, IAG, which also owns British Airways, Iberia, and Vueling.

According to Aer Lingus, the job losses will include 70 pilots, 140 cabin crew, and 290 head office roles. The Fórsa trade union, which represents Aer Lingus cabin crew, has demanded the airline “engage constructively” to prevent compulsory job losses.

The decision to downsize its workforce came after Aer Lingus announced it was either axing or downgrading a slew of routes to seasonal destinations only. Starting in September, Aer Lingus will begin axing flights between Dublin and Denver, Minneapolis, Las Vegas, and Split.