Menzies / SAS Ground Handling Buyout?

[manspot]

Does anyone know if their is any truth in the rumour Menzies have bought SAS Ground Handling? I believe it may be the worldwide!!!!

[sputnik92]

Just heard the samething , lets wait and see

[5711N0205W]

Did hear a rumour that SAS were reviewing their strategy in that area so could be linked.

[Man_User]

Hmm, seems like a large rumour is forming. Menz might get some good, checkin staff :p.

[angelic111]

There's no truth to it, according to Menzies. They've bought something from Finnair so maybe people are trying to put two and two together. But Menzies say they haven't even been talking to SAS...

[Swedish Steve]

Menzies have just purchased Northport. This was a Finnair owned ground handling company that used to be called Finnhandling. It carries out the ground handling for Finnair and British Airways (among others) in Stockholm and Oslo. Perhaps this is why you thought SAS?
They have ambitions in Scandinavia. So although it hasn't happened yet, I would not rule it out for the future!

[tegl1]

Have checked with leaders of SAS Ground Services and they have no
knowledge of and sale. If so i must be the biggest secret ever.

[STN Ramp Rat]

COPENHAGEN, Nov 27 (Reuters) - Scandinavian airline SAS (SAS.ST: Quote, Profile , Research) is considering selling all or parts of its ground services unit SGS to Britain's John Menzies (MNZS.L: Quote, Profile , Research), Danish business daily Borsen reported on Tuesday.

The final decision will be made at a SAS board meeting in three weeks' time, Borsen reported, citing sources.

SAS was not immediately available to comment on the report.

Earlier this month, Finnish national airline Finnair (FIA1S.HE: Quote, Profile , Research) agreed to sell its ground handling subsidiaries in Sweden and Norway to John Menzies, which provides aviation services through its subsidiary Menzies Aviation.

[GoEDI]

So, has this "board meeting" happened yet or not?

[KiloMIke]

Board meeting took place and the decision was apparently postponed until Feb 2008.

[STN Ramp Rat]

[B]SAS postpones decision on SGS, STS and Spirit
The Board of SAS AB, following a recommendation from Group management, has decided to postpone processing the future structure of SAS Ground Services (SGS), SAS Technical Services (STS) and Spirit (terminal management within SAS Cargo).

These structural issues were on the agenda for today's Board meeting, but it was decided to carry them to the next Board meeting on February 5th to leave more time to analyze the different alternatives.

- There exists disagreement between the management and the trade unions, especially regarding SGS, on the future structure. Although we have worked together on this continuously for four months and elucidated the issues from many sides, the control group has not succeeded in determining a joint recommendation.

- These are important issues that affect many employees in functions that are significant in enabling us to maintain our promise to customers. Accordingly, Group management found it best that the Board delay its decision to allow more time for analysis," says Mats Jansson, President and CEO of SAS.

- The Board finds it wise to follow the recommendation of Group management to take some more time to analyze various structural alternatives for SGS, STS and Spirit before the Board addresses the matters," says Egil Myklebust, Chairman of SAS AB.

Background

The future structure of SGS, STS and Spirit is part of SAS's strategy 2011 (S11). This strategy has established that SAS shall reduce its complexity and concentrate on its core business, which is passenger traffic in Northern Europe. As part of this work, the future role and structure of SGS, STS and Spirit is being studied.

The work of investigating the future organizational structure of the three subsidiaries has been organized in control groups with a broad-based composition, in which all trade unions are represented. The control groups have worked continuously since the summer of 2007.

Found within 30 seconds by Google (other search engines are available)

[cjhants]

i dont know if the mods can combine this thread with the newer one. i think the statement from SAS answers some of the questions in the new thread.

[GoEDI]

http://www.boarding.no/art.asp?id=30203

So SAS have decided to hold onto SGS for atleast the next 18 months it would seem.

[herbie963]

Doubt there will be much left tbh, certainly in SGS international as an unwillingness to invest is going to result in the closure of many stations that rely on 3rd party airlines for the business, the first on the chopping block MAN out on it's ear despite winning multiple awards from customer airlines. Near enough closing 8th April :(

[hull city]

Heard that the redundancy package for MAN staff will be 4 weeks for every year, can anyone confirm this?
Seems a bit extravagant to me.

[TeamSAS]

:mad: Hull city, You wouldnt be saying that if it was you being made redundant.

If you work hard and do a good job it should be recognised when things go wrong and jobs are lost.:ok:



CAGPNS

[older_wiser]

What is the latest situation, someone who works at lhr said they heard a rumour that SGS are thinking of shedding some contracts there ? and scaling down their operation !

Surely this cannot be true, the ramp operation is only just over a year old ?

I thought they were one of the better handling agents !

[SAS MD80]

SGS are making cut backs and savings and that includes terminating contracts that are not fiancially viable. It makes commercial sense, although to us staff it doesnt seem like it.

Unfortunatly that also means redundancy and tupe options come into effect for SGS staff, not only in LHR but also MAN.

[Willowin]

SGS have actually given notice to CA,OZ,MH and EY as considered not financially on line with their requirements of the S-11. Being OZ and CA Star Alliance airlines, it means that even if S-11 states that Star carriers will be the ones where we have to focus on, priority is given to the adjustment of the financial situation first.

Having SGS just OZ in T1, future Star terminal (to be rebranded Terminal East), it now means that SGS is leaving the future Star terminal.

[older_wiser]

SGS reorganization at LHR

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SGS have actually given notice to CA,OZ,MH and EY as considered not financially on line with their requirements of the S-11. Being OZ and CA Star Alliance airlines, it means that even if S-11 states that Star carriers will be the ones where we have to focus on, priority is given to the adjustment of the financial situation first.

Having SGS just OZ in T1, future Star terminal (to be rebranded Terminal East), it now means that SGS is leaving the future Star terminal.

So what does that mean for staff employed in these areas ? What is the timescale ?

TUPE ? and who is likely to take on the contracts ?

Also pardon my ignorance but what is S-11 ?

[ICEHOUSES]

Does this mean SGS MAN will be contracting out overwing handling for SAS flights and will staff get TUPE?

[Willowin]

for S-11, please read the post of STN Ramp Rat published earlier on.

for everything else, nothing is public yet. We all need to wait and see.

[Man_User]

With Ringway handling closing in april SGS dont have any underwing handling, as far as im aware there going to close.

[Willowin]

According to the latest news, SGS purchased passenger handling for SAS at Manchester from Servisair.

SGs will just do some handling supervision and ticket desk.

This is starting the 1st of May.

[ICEHOUSES]

So not much change in MAN then..same staff and faces but different uniform and airport ID's on SAS check in..why did they bother to self handle in first place if there going back in time four years..:confused:

[Swedish Steve]

Well Menzies have started at ARN. Their takeover of Finnhandling is complete.
Just a week later they have bought Novia Handling. Novia is the biggest handling agent at ARN, on a par with SGS. So in two weeks from nothing, Menzies is probably the biggest handling agent at ARN.