1,200 Airport Jobs Lost In Dublin

SR Technics, formerly Team Aer Lingus, which employs almost 1,200 people at Dublin Airport has announced it is to close.

There has been concern about the financial situation at the firm for some time, with the company recently losing a number of key contracts, including three maintenance contracts for its former owner, Aer Lingus - which opened a major operational hub in Belfast over a year ago

Speculation had been mounting after the company's Chief Executive Bernt Kessler, who is based at the firm's headquarters in Switzerland, held a meeting with Tánaiste Mary Coughlan to discuss the company's difficulties.

Soon after the meeting, management at the company released a statement detailing the company's intentions to close.

A spokesman for the company said: "SR Technics Group has today announced with regret that it intends to close its operation at Dublin Airport.

"It will now enter into consultation with the trade unions representing the 1,135 employees at the facility."

Management will meet union representatives at 8.30am tomorrow (Friday) morning, and workers will be addressed at around 9.30am.

Bernd Kessler, Chief Executive Officer SR Technics, said: "We are announcing this deeply regrettable and difficult step only after an exhaustive evaluation of all strategic options for our Group wide operations."

He also said they are fully aware of the difficult economic and labour market situation in Ireland and the personal implications of a closure for our staff in Dublin. "My management team will be working closely with the relevant unions over the coming weeks and we will ensure that our Dublin employees are fully informed and supported.

"We will do all we can to minimise the impact of this announcement on the workforce," he said.

Meanwhile, budget airline Ryanair - which owns a large number of shares in Aer Lingus - is today expected to announce cuts to its Dublin service.

An airline spokesperson said it has been facing difficulties with the €10 departure levy, introduced as part of last year's Government Budget.

Last week, the airline announced plans to reduce services at Shannon and cut the number of aircraft at the Co Clare facility from six to four.

Ryanair has blamed the move on the Government's airport tax, which it claims has caused declines in traffic to the UK and Holland, and is "devastating forward bookings".

In NI, Ryanair is pinning its hopes of expansion of operations at George Best Belfast City Airport on a controversal bid to extend the runway, while it continues to fly into City of Derry Airport.

See: Aer Lingus' Belfast Flights Take Off

(DW/BMcC)