AER LINGUS is considering a move from the terminal it has occupied for more than 30 years in the International Arrivals Building at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York.
One option would be to move to the Delta Airlines terminal at JFK. Aer Lingus signed a "worldwide partnership" deal with Delta last April.
Aer Lingus employs about 50 people handling its aircraft at Kennedy Airport, and trade union sources have expressed concern about these jobs if the airline moves to the Delta terminal.
However, a spokesman for Aer Lingus said that, even if it moves, its aircraft would continue to be handled by the airline's own staff.
A new contract to manage Kennedy Airport has been awarded to the Schiphol Airport company of Amsterdam by the owners, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
The Aer Lingus spokesman said it was likely that the existing terminal would have to be completely rebuilt, and that would trigger a rent increase.
"That would be a matter for negotiation between us and the operator, but we are considering the possibility of moving to Delta," the spokesman said.
Virgin and Swissair are already handled at the Delta terminal. Swissair has a partnership agreement with Delta similar to the one signed with Aer Lingus earlier this year.