Apparently Ryanair has just recently threatened to stop domestic flights in Italy starting next month amid a dispute with the country’s authorities over new rules on ID documents that passengers can show at airport gates. Ryanair pointed out that Domestic flights operated at 10 Italian airports, which does include Rome and Milan, will be grounded starting January 23 if the issue is not resolved.

Just last month, the Italy Civil Aviation Authority, ENAC, ordered airlines to accept driving licenses, government badges, fishing and hunting licenses, as well as other documents to identify passengers at boarding gates for domestic flights. Ryanair said that since it started operating entirely with online check ins, passengers are asked at booking time to show their passport or identity cards before boarding. Ryanair went on to say that the documents now allowed are less secure and this threatens flight security.

Ryanair’s CEO Michael O’Leary, said that they are really sorry for the inconveniences that this decision will cause to passengers. He noted that its completely inappropriate for the ENAC to introduce measures that reduce security for flights.

Of course, the ENAC has dismissed Ryanair’s protests. They said that the new rules were based on a law that was passed back in 2000 and that all other carriers have complied with it. They went on to say that no carrier can operate on the national domestic market without respecting the rules. Ryanair is the only EU and international airline that demands to fly in Italy without respecting Italian laws. The ENAC said it would lodge a protest with the Irish Civil Aviation Authority and inform Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini of the situation.