Airpartner purchased Goldair in Oct 1996 at a time when the business jet market, along with the economy in general was extremely buoyant, demand for quality aircraft was outstripping supply and AP thought that ownership of an operating company would guarantee supply. They felt that the name Airpartner would attract new management contracts and that managed fleet would expand rapidly and include large cabin types.
Sadly the company has been placed in administration and the final curtain has all but fallen. Was this due to the global recession, down turn in the charter market, poor management, lack of direction from the parent company, the wrong aircraft type, poor management contracts or a combination of all of the above, draw your own conclusions!
Airpartner is not the first business jet company to become insolvent and unfortunately probably will not be the last.
Of greatest importance is not what has happened but how the situation is managed and how the personnel are treated. Fortunately Airpartner is a caring people orientated company with departments for Human Resources, in house training, customer care etc.
Extract from the company’s Corporate Mission Statement “This will be done within a rewarding, professional and fun environment, where people are valued, involved and developed to be the best they can be in their chosen field. “
Airpartner plc proudly state that they are debt free, cash rich and have a bank balance in excess of £14,000,000.
On 15th March 47 professionals from sales, operations, accounts, engineering and pilots were made redundant and dumped unceremoniously into the ranks of the unemployed.
No one received any notice or warning what so ever, they were told to attend a meeting where they were introduced to the administrator to be made redundant.
All company email accounts were closed immediately, all company benefits ceased immediately
No one from the parent company either human resource department or directors turned up at Biggin Hill to explain the situation.
There was not one good will message, card or email sent by any of the Airpartner management. No sorry to see you go, good luck in the future message etc, nothing.
There was no consultation or counselling from human recourses just a presentation by the Job Centre telling everyone how to claim benefits.
There will be no redundancy payments made by the company in spite of the £14m cash reserves.
There will be no payment in lieu of notice paid by the company in spite of the £14m cash reserves.
There is no money to pay debts to suppliers
There was an announcement made reassuring the public that Airpartner plc was still in a strong and healthy position and forecasting positive growth into the future.
The directors will no doubt now be congratulating each other on a job well done and money saved without the slightest thought for the 40+ individuals dumped on the street with nothing.
I do not work for Airpartner but I do know they had a great bunch of professionals working for them at Biggin and I wish them all the very best of luck in finding new jobs.