Only a couple a weeks ago Aer Arann said it was seeking up to 100 redundancies as part of a cost reduction programme.

The airline said it wanted to concentrate the airline more on charter flights and leasing its aircraft and crews to other airlines.
But today it says that following the creation of a new Isle of Man base, up to 30 positions – mainly among flight crew and cabin crew – which had been up for redundancy will now be safe. The base will services flights between the Isle of Man and London City.

Aer Arann has confirmed that the total number of redundancies will be limited to just 70.

The routes which will be suspended from January 12 are:
- the Galway-Waterford to Amsterdam service
- the Kerry to Manchester service
- the Cork to Glasgow-Prestwick service.

‘Route reductions like this are normal for the winter schedule,’ commented Aer Arann’s CEO designate Paul Schutz.
‘While these cuts may be a little deeper in these recessionary times, routes that are suspended will be kept under review and may return in the future when the demand is there to support them,’ he added.
Aer Arann operates over 600 flights per week, across 40 routes in Ireland to the UK and Northern France as well as Amsterdam. Passenger numbers have grown from 12,000 in its first year to 1.1m in 2006.

Need Interview Help? Interviews & Job Interviews in Ireland

Aer Arann is to cut its workforce by up to 25 per cent as it looks to reduce costs by seeking up to 100 redundancies.
The firm says that the cost-reduction programme is “being implemented to ensure the airline’s long-term future”, and it will lead to an increasing concentration on the charter and “wet lease” programme it introduced during the summer, whereby Aer Arann provides aircraft, crews and maintenance to other airlines.
Although the firm’s key routes will be unaffected by the development, it will lead to a reduction in the airline’s marginal scheduled services.
The airline currently employs more than 400 people and the programme will “likely” lead to a reduction in staff numbers of up to 100 people.
However, the firm said that redundancies for flight crew and engineers “may reduce, depending on the progressive introduction of new charter and wet lease business”.