Hundreds of jobs at risk in Aer Lingus overhaul

AER LINGUS has admitted its decision to axe 25% of its winter transatlantic schedule is only a “small step” in a complete overhaul of the airline that could see hundreds of jobs axed.

With the airline going through what it says is its most difficult trading period in its 73-year history, Aer Lingus has decided to suspend Shannon flights to Chicago from September 1 and services from Dublin to Washington and San Francisco from October 25.

It said it had to act because the airline’s yields had been declining in exceptionally poor market conditions and long-haul average fares fell 19% in the first quarter of 2009.