UP to 45 jobs among low-fare airline bmibaby’s pilots and cabin crew based at Manchester Airport face the axe.

They include 11 captains’ posts and nine first officer roles.

Up to eight cabin managers and 17 stewards and stewardesses are also facing redundancy.

A total of 158 staff at the airline are in danger of the chop as part of the shake-up.

The airline said 54 pilot and 82 cabin crew positions across Manchester, Birmingham and Cardiff, are “at risk of redundancy”, as are 22 management and support positions at its head office near East Midlands.

Bmibaby also announced that it is reducing the number of aircraft in its fleet from 17 to 12 next year.

Yesterday the airline confirmed it was cutting services between Manchester and Malaga and Alicante in Spain from later this month.

The airline added that its restructuring would lead to additional services at East Midlands next year and the creation of 10 pilot and 15 cabin crew positions.

Bmibaby managing director Crawford Rix said: “Since our launch we have established ourselves as a leading player in the low-cost airline market.

“However, the aviation industry is facing its toughest time ever. It is experiencing record losses and remedial action has to be taken. We are no exception to this.

“We have to focus our efforts and activities on routes and services that we believe are the best fit for our business.”

The carrier has started discussions with staff and union representatives “with a view to minimising job losses wherever possible”.

Brian Boyd, Unite’s national officer for aviation, said: “The  announcement casts further doubt over the whole bmi group as its new owners Lufthansa search for cost savings. Unite members are once again caught at the sharp end of business restructuring. We will now be engaging with  bmibaby to ensure that the requirement for compulsory redundancy is avoided.”