Threatening the move several weeks ago, Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary has confirmed that the airline will close two of its Irish bases for the duration of the winter with the decision affecting both Cork and Shannan Airport.
Making the call to reduce overall capacity from 60 per cent down to 40 per cent for the winter months, Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary said that the cuts were forced upon him by "Government mismanagement of EU air travel".
Speaking of the decision, Mr O'Leary said:
"Our focus continues to be on maintaining as large a schedule as we can sensibly operate to keep our aircraft, our pilots and our cabin crew current and employed while minimising job losses.
"It is inevitable, given the scale of these cutbacks, that we will be implementing more unpaid leave, and job sharing this winter in those bases where we have agreed reduced working time and pay, but this is a better short term outcome than mass job losses.
The airline will also make changes to several of its bases across Europe - closing the Ryanair base at Toulouse in France for the winter months, while also significantly reducing the number of aircraft at airports in countries such as Belgium, Germany, Spain, Portugal and Vienna.
No specific date has been announced as of yet but both bases will be closed for the duration of the winter season which usually runs from late October/early November through March.
