Ryanair has threatened to close their Cork and Shannon bases for the winter if EU travel restrictions aren't lifted by the end of the month.
The airline's CEO Eddie Wilson has written to staff, warning that the company faces a winter with "no outbound business travel and severely reduced inbound leisure travel" if the green list isn't extended.
He says that if quarantine restrictions from EU states aren't lifted, all pilot and cabin crew operating from Cork and Shannon will be put on unpaid leave from the end of October.
He said the airline will do their best to reopen the bases from March next year, but only if travel restrictions to other EU states have been lifted in time for traffic to recover.
The airline - which has repeatedly criticised the 14-day quarantine advice for people arriving into Ireland - said they would continue to operate flights into the two airports from elsewhere, but frequency would be "significantly reduced".
Approached for comment on the letter, Ryanair said it doesn't comment on internal communication with staff.
It's expected the current green list will be reviewed next week, with the EU also believed to be examining a new policy.
Responding to the Ryanair news, Minister of State Niall Collins said air travel 'has fallen off a cliff' since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
He said: "The reduction of services in both Shannon and Cork is a huge blow and concern to the region.
"I think we have to wait until the Government produces its medium-term 'living with COVID' plan early next week - and that will address areas around foreign travel."
He said the plan will also include measures around the constant 'reviewing and updating' of the green list.
