Ryanair Threatens Winter Base Closures Due to Ireland’s Travel Restrictions

DUBLIN, KOMPAS.com – Ryanair has informed staff at two Irish airports that it will close the bases for the winter unless Ireland’s travel restrictions ease.

Irish national broadcaster RTE reported on Tuesday that the airline wrote a letter citing its intention to close Shannon and Cork airports in the south of Ireland.

Ryanair announced in August that it will further reduce flight capacity by another 20 percent from September to October.

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The cuts mostly affected flights in France, Spain, Ireland, and Sweden where travel restrictions were reintroduced.

The Irish airline has been most critical of the approach in its home country, where unencumbered travel is only allowed to and from 10 European countries.

It initiated legal proceedings against the government, questioning the legality of the curbs.

The threatened closures would affect 130 directly employed staff as well as contract workers, RTE reported, citing a letter from Eddie Wilson, Chief Executive of Ryanair's main airline business.

An airline spokesman said it did not comment on internal communication with its staff.

Ryanair, the largest budget carrier in Europe, operates from 82 bases.