Ryanair is to stop flights between Italian cities in a dispute over flying documents.

The airline has objected to a decision by Italy's civil aviation authority to relax identification requirements at airports.

Last month, Italy's ENAC civil aviation authority told airlines they must accept documents, such as driving licenses, government ID cards and fishing and hunting licenses as identification for domestic flights.

Safety fears over new documents

Ryanair argues that this would compromise the security of its staff and passengers, and says that it should be able to require passports or national identity cards.

The airline said that staff would be compelled to accept the documents by law. On Wednesday it announced that it would stop flights between the 10 Italian airports it flies in and out of, from January 23.

"The ENAC's unlawful insistence that Ryanair should accept other, less secure, forms of ID on Italian domestic flights, which our crews and our handling agents may be unfamiliar with, reduces safety and security which is unacceptable," said Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary.

The ENAC has not yet commented on the decision.

rc/AP/Reuters
Editor: Chuck Penfold