Aer Lingus management has written to staff at Shannon Airport seeking 51 voluntary redundancies as part of plans to withdraw its Heathrow services from next January.
The company is seeking the redundancies among ground operations staff, including ground check, clerical staff and baggage handlers.
The company is also seeking six redundancies from staff employed by the airline at Heathrow, as a result of the withdrawal of its Shannon route.
The company says it currently employs 398 staff at Shannon; made up of 168 cabin crew, 123 ground operative staff, 73 maintenance staff, and 34 cargo staff.
At the time of the announcement of its withdrawal of the Shannon Heathrow link last August, the company said the move would mean a surplus of staff at Shannon.
The employees are being offered the same terms as a severance deal offered to company employees as part of a cost-cutting plant in 2004.
The Mayor of Clare, Cllr Patricia McCarthy, says it is the beginning of the effects of the Aer Lingus withdrawal.
She said there are huge concerns now about the Aer Lingus commitment to Shannon, including its long-term commitment to its trans-Atlantic service there.
