Aer Lingus yesterday moved to almost halve the numbers employed in its ground operations at Shannon Airport as part of its plan to end the Shannon-Heathrow link.

The airline will next week write to its 123 ground staff at Shannon seeking 51 voluntary redundancies, while six London-based crew are to also lose their jobs, bringing the total number of job losses arising from the company's Heathrow decision to 57. The airline is the largest employer at Shannon, with 398 staff.

The decision to end the Heathrow route next January will result in the airline only operating transatlantic routes out of Shannon.

In a letter to Siptu's national industrial secretary, Michael Halpenny, Aer Lingus chief executive Dermot Mannion said that all applications for the severance package must be made by December 14th.

The redundancies are being sought through the reopening of the 2004 Aer Lingus severance programme which guarantees minimum payments of €40,000 to staff with short service, leading up to higher payments to those with longer service.

The company's commercial director, Enda Corneille, last night described the package "as a generous scheme".

Asked what would happen if the company does not achieve its target of 51 redundancies through the voluntary package, Mr Corneille said that redeployment could be an option for those who decide not to avail of the scheme.

Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey said yesterday: "Aer Lingus didn't make any secret of the fact that once it moved the hub that it would lead to job losses.

"It is obviously regrettable, but it is a consequence of the decision taken. Aer Lingus is a commercial company that has to make commercial decisions. I regret very much the loss of jobs anywhere, but it was inevitable."

Vice-chairwoman of the Shannon Action Group and Aer Lingus ground staff employee Geraldine Morrissey yesterday said: "Staff here are very shocked and very distressed. Morale is very, very poor and we are all upset about our prospects here for the future."