Maintenance company SR Technics is claiming there are more than 20 expressions of interest to partly acquire its Dublin plant, as the Swiss firm reiterates its intent to withdraw from Ireland.
"We have now started a consultation process with the unions and within that we are obviously looking at expressions of interests," says an SR Technics spokesman. "There are more than 20 [expressions of] interest for part of the business.
"It is obviously the case that, in the current market conditions, it will not be possible to have a sustainable [Dublin] business. Given the high cost base of Dublin that will not be possible."
The SR Technics spokesman adds that some MRO customers have opted not to send their work to Dublin, although he declines to name the companies or where else this business might go.
Irish union sources are also confirming that a significant number of potential investors are keen on the Dublin station, which consists of 1,135 employees. A protest against the closure plans was also staged outside the Swiss embassy in Dublin today.
The Unite union says a healthy future order book is partly responsible for the outside interest. "Some 80% of the workbook is sold already for this year, with a lot of this [being] the 10-year Aer Lingus contract," says a spokesman.
"The impression we have been given is that interest in [the base] has been in taking part of the workload as opposed to taking over the entire operation," he says. "The union and workforce are adamant that this is something that can be sold. They are not willing to just roll over."
Talks between SR Technics and the unions are scheduled to take place on 10 March. "There have been a number of approaches and some of these details may be timetabled at the meeting," adds the spokesman.
The SR Technics Dublin plant has been beset with difficulties, including the loss of a contract with Bahrain's Gulf Air last month and a reduction in work from Aer Lingus.
Work at the Dublin station, which has six maintenance hangars, will continue for the time being, but will be transferred to another provider at some point.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
