Aer Lingus is being tipped to confirm a reduction in operations at Gatwick less than a year after the UK base was established.

 

An announcement on plans to reduce capacity is expected today.

 

The Irish carrier, which is in negotiations with employees on a restructuring plan to save €97 million a year, is expected to cut some of the 13 routes its runs from Gatwick, the Irish Times reported.

 

Quoting sources, the newspaper said the airline would withdraw two or three of its five Gatwick-based aircraft rather than expand to an eight-strong fleet as originally planned for summer 2010.

 

The Aer Lingus network from Gatwick covers 13 European destinations and was established only last April. Routes include Eindhoven, Munich, Vienna, Zurich, Faro, Malaga, Warsaw, Lanzarote and Tenerife.

 

But the newcomer to the London airport has faced a fares battle with the UK’s largest budget carrier EasyJet, which this week launched an advertising campaign comparing flight prices with Aer Lingus from Gatwick (see previous TravelMole story).

 

by Phil Davies