FLS Aerospace axes more jobs

EUROPE'S largest independent aircraft maintenance group, FLS Aerospace, is planning another round of job cuts as part of a restructuring of the loss-making company, writes Russell Hotten.

The reorganisation comes on top of 700 redundancies last year in the wake of British Airways' takeover of Dan-Air, a big contractor for FLS, which operates at several airports including Gatwick and Manchester.

FLS, which employs 2,500, has reviewed its operations and an announcement is expected this week. FLS has expanded rapidly but last year made losses of about pounds 30m.

Steffan Harpoth, of the company's parent group based in Denmark, FLS Industries, said the aim was to become one organisation rather than a group of companies.