The campaign group that is opposing the Aer Lingus decision to end its Shannon to Heathrow service has said it is looking at the possibility of mounting a legal challange to the decision.
The group has engaged senior counsel and said that if a legal challange could be mounted, it would be.
The group, which met at Shannon airport today, is also seeking immediate meetings with the Taoiseach and the Minister for Transport and has called for an emergency general meeting of Aer Lingus Shareholders to reverse the Heathrow decision.
Meanwhile, the Irish Travel Agents Association has urged the Government to allow Shannon Airport Authority to match the financial incentives that were given to Aer Lingus to create a hub out of Belfast.
The ITAA believe that the Aer Lingus pullout from Shannon will have a catastrophic affect to both the business and leisure community in the west of Ireland.
Efforts are being made to find another airline to provide a replacement service if Aer Lingus refuses to reverse its decision.
Representatives of business, tourism and local politicians from the region met earlier today at the airport with Shannon Development chairman John Brassil appealing to the Government to come up with an innovative solution to the situation.
One of the questions raised was why the board of Aer Lingus was not involved in the decision and why it was left entirely in the hands of management to explore and finalise the move.
According to Limerick East Fianna Fáil TD Peter Power, the board should have been involved in the decision-making process - given the huge impact it will have on regional development along the entire western seaboard.
He said it was an appalling move, which would have to be fought.
However, an Aer Lingus spokesman told RTÉ News that the decision to introduce the Belfast-Heathrow service and end the Shannon service did not require a board meeting.
It was an operational and executive management decision and was in line with the corporate governance for a commercial public company.
So far there is no indication that Aer Lingus has any intension of reversing its decision but the opponents claim the battle to retain the Shannon London link is only just beginning.
Limerick City Business Association called on their members today to close the doors of their business to reinforce, what they called the devastating effect that the Aer Lingus closure will have on the fortunes of the region.
It said that the withdrawal of the Heathrow route will impact on both employers and employees throughout the west of Ireland and will draw a divisive line between east and west of the Shannon.
