Agents hope for long-haul replacements following Aer Lingus' Manchester exit

Agents have expressed disappointment at the recent decision by Aer Lingus to stop selling transatlantic flights from Manchester Airport, but hope another airline will take up the “opportunities” to serve long-haul destinations.

The move by the airline comes after a consultation late last year about the future of its operations from the airport, which could affect 200 employees.

The union Unite has threatened more industrial action over the withdrawal plans, which the general secretary Sharon Graham described as “economic vandalism”.

Richard Slater, managing director of Henbury Travel based in Macclesfield, said there were “plenty of opportunities” for other airlines to come in to replace Aer Lingus.

“All of these routes are served by Virgin Atlantic currently, plus all the various connections via other airports,” he explained. “But it would be nice for somebody to come in and operate them.

“For Manchester there are bigger priorities, such as San Francisco, Los Angeles and Chicago, so there are plenty of opportunities for other destinations.”

However, Slater acknowledged airlines may not want to start new US routes “in the current political climate”, despite the World Cup taking place in the country this summer.

He said: “I don’t know any agent that has done a World Cup booking. I think they will mainly be through a few specialist operators, but mainly direct.”

Phil Nuttall, co-owner of The Travel Village Group based in Blackpool, said that while the move had “been on the cards for a long time”, it was “a shame” to lose the Aer Lingus transatlantic routes.

“It would have been far better for them to be up front a lot earlier and I think it’s a shame,” he said.

“I think it’s a great service, but we have to move on and hopefully it’s an opportunity for other airlines to come in and fill that space.”

Greig Horabin, co-founder of Just Ask Travel based in Blackpool, said: “For me as an agent, if I could just sell accommodation-only and never sell a flight, that would be fantastic, because airlines are the bane of my life.”

He added: “It is a shame because we lose a transatlantic route for Orlando, New York and Barbados.

“We do need more airlines for those routes, but I do not sell enough US packages to get too worried about it.”

He added lots of his clients travel east instead with Etihad or Qatar Airways.

Horabin said the airport could benefit from more flights to JFK and a route to Mexico.

Protected Trust Services managing director Emma Collis said: "The Aer Lingus Manchester airport news has had an impact on northern agent sales."

She gave the example of one agent losing £21k in sales for two quotes for an out-of-date range Florida holiday, adding "the price could not be honoured at the booking stage" due to Virgin Atlantic now being the only airline operating the route.