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.