Aer Lingus has warned it faces a very bleak future if its latest restructuring plan is not implemented.

The carrier wants to shed 676 jobs in a bid to reduce costs by €97 million a year.

The Aer Lingus Director of Coporate Affairs – Enda Corneille has told an Oireachtas Committee that its operational costs are just too high.

“We have a duty as a PLC to address all of these challenges now to shareholders, employees and customers” he said.

“We believe the future is now in all of our hands – we need to embrace a new strategy, that’s absolutely clear”.

“If we don’t do that, we face a very bleak future”.

“This new strategy is in two parts: first is to do with reducing cost, but the second is generating revenue” he added.