Aer Lingus is to begin talks with staff and local interests about the possible discontinuation of the Shannon airport to Heathrow route.
Company sources last night confirmed talks were imminent about the route's future. Aer Lingus operates four services daily from Shannon to Heathrow during summer and three in winter.
Apart from flights to three US destinations, the Heathrow route is the only one Aer Lingus operates from Shannon. Local speculation yesterday centred on the airline using slots granted to it at Heathrow for proposed new services from Belfast.
It is not clear whether the airline will pull out of the route altogether or just reduce its existing services.
Locally, the move will be seen as a major blow to the region, despite London's three main airports being served by Ryanair. That airline has plans to start services from Shannon to London Luton in addition to existing flights to Stansted and Gatwick.
However, the region sees Heathrow as the major European hub for passengers travelling around the world from Ireland.
Clare Fine Gael TD Pat Breen warned last night that there would be "dire consequences" for the west of Ireland if the move goes ahead. "It will be disastrous for industry and tourism in the west if the airline drops this route," he said.
"Many American tourists fly to London and backtrack to Shannon because it is the only access they have to the west of Ireland."
Mr Breen argued Shannon was, yet again, being used "as a sacrificial lamb" by Aer Lingus, adding that he had warned this would happen when it was made a semi-State company. He called for the intervention of Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey.
"Where is the logic here? Where is the much-talked-about Aer Lingus commitment to Shannon?" Mr Breen asked. "The Heathrow route has been hugely profitable for Aer Lingus and a critical link to the west of Ireland from one of the world's busiest airports."
Mayor of Clare and Shannon councillor Patricia McCarthy said the service could not be sold off to the highest bidder or used by Aer Lingus to facilitate entry to Heathrow for any other airport. "The Government, as the majority shareholder in Aer Lingus, must ensure the airline continues the Shannon-Heathrow service."