PEMCO World Air Services is planning to lay off 474 workers at its aircraft maintenance complex at Tampa International Airport. The company says it has no choice in this action since United’s “recent sudden cancellation” of all its maintenance work for the “sizable workforce reduction” at its facilities.
“While PEMCO would have preferred giving more notice, this loss of a key customer’s business was not foreseen by the company, which has had a long relationship with UAL,” company director of human resources Colleen Picard wrote. “Although PEMCO’s Tampa facilities will continue operations, these layoff(s) are expected to be permanent.”
The news comes just five months after PEMCO filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization. PEMCO owes creditors $12 million, including the airport and Impact Industrial Supplies, a supplier of airplane parts and equipment in Tampa.
