Tampa International Airport – Layoffs coming for 474 at PEMCO World Air Services

The bay area is about to get hit with one of the single-largest layoffs in the state this year: PEMCO World Air Services is planning to fire 474 workers at its aircraft maintenance complex at Tampa International Airport.

PEMCO is the largest airplane maintenance and repair company headquartered at Tampa International. But the company said it has no choice but to start gutting its local workforce within a matter of days after losing a major contract with United Airlines, according to a letter PEMCO sent to local and state officials on Thursday.

“We’re saddened by this turn of events,” said Tampa International CEO Joe Lopano in a prepared statement. “No one likes to see layoffs.”

PEMCO blamed United’s “recent sudden cancellation” of all its maintenance work for the “sizable workforce reduction” at its facilities at 4102 and 4202 N West Shore Blvd.

“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.”…

via Layoffs coming for 474 at TIA; PEMCO World Air Services plans to let go of workers.