Groundforce Portugal, the passenger assistance, lane operations and air cargo company, has just announced its triumphant return to Faro Airport, where it will create 140 new jobs - but not all at once.
Groundforce Portugal will provide assistance to passengers on IAG Group flights - British Airways, Iberia, BA City Flyer, Vueling and Aer Lingus, at a time when the Algarve is experiencing a substantial increase in tourism and as the new Faro aiport is operational.
Groundforce Portugal abruptly canceled its operation in Faro in November 2010 due to crippling financial problems and the need to save jobs elsewhere that were not causing so much money to be lost.
"After a deep process of restructuring and development, initiated by the management team led by Alfredo Casimiro, in 2012 Groundforce Portugal returned to positive results due to the commitment and dedication of all employees," explains Groundforce in a statement on July 20th, 2017.
The move in 2010 saw the abrupt firing of 300 staff, allegedly by email, in a bid to stem losses and save 2,000 jobs elsewhere in the country.
In total, 336 Groundforce employees were dismissed from their posts at Faro airport with the company struggling against competitors such as Portway.
Back in 2007, things were looking buoyant at Groundforce Portugal which was handling almost all inbound charter and scheduled flights, catering for around 200 airlines.
In 2008, due to a deterioration in the quality of services, the company underwent changes at the top and a heavy re-structuring but by the end of the year had racked up losses in the region of €38.2 million.
In 2009 those losses were reduced to €28.2 million, and by the end of 2010 the company was expected to close the year with losses of around €20 million.
Closing its operation at Faro stripped out €8 million a year in costs and made secure 2,000 jobs at Lisbon, Oporto and Madeira airports.
For Paulo Neto Leite, Chief Executive of Groundforce Portugal, the 2017 return to Faro airport "proves the recovery of the company and its robustness".
"We have a solid structure that allows us to return with confidence to the operation and provide a service of excellence similar to what we have been developing in Lisbon, Oporto, Funchal and Porto Santo Airports. This operation will generate, in the long term, about 140 new jobs and create new opportunities for some of the people who lost their jobs in 2010," said Neto Leite, hopefully.
