Aer Lingus has blamed a significant decline in ground handling business at Shannon for its decision to seek 102 voluntary redundancies from its airport staff.
The company will formally announce the terms of a voluntary redundancy package next week but it has ruled out compulsory redundancies.
The move will virtually halve Aer Lingus ground staff numbers at Shannon from 208 to 106. The axe will fall on all grades including operatives, clerical staff and management.
In future, Aer Lingus will only provide ground handling services for its own aircraft.
It is understood there had been a recent significant drop in handling business from other airlines passing through Shannon, particularly military flights.
SIPTU has condemned the decision, describing it as ironic in light of the massive profits achieved by the company.
The union believes the decision flies in the face of assurances from Transport Minister Séamus Brennan that Aer Lingus operations would underpin the future viability of Shannon as a stand-alone identity after the break-up of Aer Rianta.
LRC talks on cabin crew relocation
Separately, representatives of the Aer Lingus cabin crew union, IMPACT, have been meeting management at the Labour Relations Commission today in a row over the compulsory relocation of 29 staff from Shannon to Dublin.
Cabin crew have voted overwhelmingly for strike action over the relocations.
The LRC talks also involve pilots, who have voted for industrial action over fears that the airline plans to make some of them redundant because there is not enough work for them.
