The North Dublin aircraft maintenance firm SR Technics is likely to close with the loss of up to 1,500 jobs if it loses a crucial Aer Lingus maintenance contract currently under tender, according to an internal document seen by RTE News.
Last autumn Aer Lingus announced it was putting out to tender its 10-year maintenance contract with SRT which expires this October. The tender was broken down into four contracts.
SRT has already been told it has lost two contracts for wheel and brakes and components maintenance. The company expects to find out tomorrow whether it has retained the airframe contract. By the end of this month, Aer Lingus will also reveal whether it is sticking with SRT for a key line maintenance contract.
An internal SRT document dated January 7 describes the line maintenance contract as a core component of its business model. 'Closure of the company is the likely scenario in the case where this is lost,' the document continues.
SRT - formerly known as Team Aer Lingus - employs between 1,200 and 1,500 staff. It is part of a global Zurich-based group which employs 5,000 people worldwide. Its total expenditure in Ireland is more than €100m a year.
