There is welcome news for Aer Lingus staff in Cork after the airline confirmed there will be no cuts to its operations at Cork Airport as part of a major restructuring that could put hundreds of jobs at risk elsewhere in the country.

Around 200 people are employed by the airline in Cork, and their positions are not expected to be affected by the cost-cutting measures announced on Tuesday.

While Aer Lingus plans to reduce its overall workforce by up to 500 roles, the proposed changes are centred on Dublin, with the airline’s head office, pilots and cabin crew expected to bear the brunt of the restructuring.

The airline is also scaling back part of its Dublin route network, with a number of services either being withdrawn altogether or switched to seasonal operations over the coming months.

Several transatlantic destinations, including Denver, Minneapolis, and Las Vegas, are set to be removed from the schedule, while flights to Seattle will operate only during the summer season. A number of European services from Dublin are also being reduced or dropped.

Crucially for the south of the country, none of the planned route changes affect Cork Airport, meaning the city’s Aer Lingus base will continue operating as normal.

The airline said the overhaul is aimed at improving profitability after a challenging period for the aviation sector. Aer Lingus hopes the measures will strengthen its financial performance and help secure future investment from parent company International Airlines Group (IAG).

Aer Lingus has begun a consultation process with employee representatives, stressing that the final number of job losses has not yet been determined. The airline says discussions will focus on minimising compulsory redundancies wherever possible.

The announcement has prompted concern among politicians and unions, with Labour transport spokesperson Ciarán Ahern urging the company to work closely with staff representatives throughout the consultation process.

He said employees deserved clear communication about their future and called on Aer Lingus to make every effort to protect jobs. Where redundancies cannot be avoided, he said workers should receive fair treatment and appropriate compensation.

For Cork, however, the immediate picture is considerably brighter, with both local jobs and the airport’s Aer Lingus services escaping the wide-ranging changes affecting the airline’s Dublin operations.