STAFF AT Lufthansa Technik Airmotive Ireland’s plant in Rathcoole, Co Dublin, have returned to operating a full five-day week more than a month earlier than the German company had originally planned.
In early July, staff at the plant were put on notice by the company of its intention to move to a three-day working week on the last day of that month due to an “unprecedented decrease” in the number of aircraft engines being sent there for maintenance and overhaul.
It told staff that the three-day week would remain in place until the end of September at least.
However, staff were returned to a full working week on August 27th.
A spokesman for Lufthansa Tecknik said this was a consequence of “changed business levels”.
It is understood that the company, which is ultimately owned by Lufthansa German Airlines, originally asked staff to work overtime to complement the three-day week.
This was rejected by workers who, instead, insisted that their five-day week be restored.
Lufthansa Technik is also seeking up to 40 voluntary redundancies at the Rathcoole facility, where it employs 460 people.
Latest accounts for Lufthansa Technik Airmotive Ireland Holdings Ltd, which includes its Shannon-based aircraft maintenance business and other aviation-related activities here, show it made a profit of €12.21 million in 2010 compared with €16.85 million in the previous year.
The reduced profitability was due to an €8.9 million exceptional cost relating to a restructuring of its aircraft overhaul business here.
Revenues rose by 13 per cent to €300 million in 2010.
Established in 1980, Lufthansa Technik in Rathcoole specialises in the repair and overhaul of CFM56-3, CFM56-7, V2500-A5 and JT9D engine types.
:quality(70)/s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/irishtimes/df7f58f1-ac9c-44fd-bf8e-ea534d775f7b.png)