AER LINGUS COULD cut up to 500 jobs as the airline plans to reduce its flight capacity.

Ireland’s flag carrier confirmed in a statement that it will be cutting roles and making changes to its network.

The proposed cuts come as the airline seeks to slim down its operations and become more cost-efficient. Part of this restructuring will see its flight capacity lower by 6%.

The network changes will begin to take effect from late September and continue into next summer, affecting some long-haul and short-haul flights.

Three flights from Dublin to cities in the US will be discontinued, while a flight servicing Dublin to Seattle will only be available in the summer.

Three flights from Dublin to cities in Europe will be available only in the summer, and a flight from Dublin to Split in Croatia will be discontinued.

“These changes could see up to 500 employees leaving the airline,” Aer Lingus said.

It said the airline has focused on reducing supplier costs and has reduced senior management roles by around 25%.

“In the next stage, the airline proposes to reduce wider employee costs in Head Office functions by approximately 25% and make network changes to remove lower margin flying.”

It said it would work with its staff and their representatives on the planned job cuts.

The airline cited a “continued challenging macroeconomic environment”, increased transatlantic competitor capacity, and increases in supplier costs and carbon costs as reasons for the drastic measures.

The “increasing seasonality” of the airline’s business and increases in fuel costs were also mentioned as challenges leading to the action.

In Q1 of this year, the airline suffered losses of €103 million.

Fórsa, the union that represents many workers in aviation, said the job losses come as a “profound shock” to workers.

“Today’s news will be very difficult for Aer Lingus workers and their families, many of whom will be worried about what this means for their livelihoods,” said Hazel Nolan, Fórsa’s national secretary,

She said job cuts should only be a last resort, and other options like voluntary redundancies and redeployment opportunities should be explored first.

The union said it will participate in the collective consultation process, which it expects will begin shortly.

“Consultation must be genuine and solution-focused. Workers and their representatives need full transparency from the company, and sufficient time and scope to examine all viable alternatives to job losses,” Nolan said.