Europcypria outsourcing contract goes to Louis

An outsourcing catering and airport handling contract to supply Eurocypria has been won by a Louis company, leading to strike action by Cyprus Airways employees at Paphos airport, worried about their jobs.

During a a joint meeting between the House Finance and House Communications Committees, Cyprus Airways employees requested an independent investigation into the proceedings followed by the companies during the offer and the punishment of any discrepancies.
They also asked for the separation and restructuring of the two companies’ Boards in order to avoid further victimisation of the Cyprus Airways staff.
President of Cyprus Airways trade union SYNYKA, Andreas Pierides, told deputies that their demand was for Cyprus Airways staff at Paphos Airport to continue to be in charge of Eurocypria’s customer services, as 50 percent of flights to and from the airport were made by Eurocypria.
Pierides said around 25 employees in Paphos were in danger of losing their jobs, as they couldn’t or didn’t wish to be transferred to Larnaca Airport.
The parliamentary meeting took place in the presence of Communications Minister Harris Thrassou, the Finance Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, the Managing Directors of Cyprus Airways and Eurocypria, and the workers’ unions.
Eurocypria general manager Georgos Souroullas said that the tender for offers took place last January and offers were taken from four companies. The lowest offer was chosen, he said, adding that the company was requesting CYP65 per flight, while Cyprus Airways had asked for CYP220 per flight.
“The difference was massive, and that is why the private company was chosen, with a three-year contract,” Souroullas explained.
The general manager of Cyprus Airways, Christos Kyriacides, pointed out that if the state courier offer the same price as a private company, the company would be burdened with CYP100,000 each year.
Following the meeting, Minister Thrassou said that “the Cyprus government supports Cyprus Airways with all means possible and has guaranteed loans for Cyprus Airways surpassing 70 million euro, it has purchased Eurocypria and it is moving ahead with efforts that will inject a further CYP17 million.”
He added, “We will continue this support, but at the same time we will not accept any loss-making departments, because this defeats the purpose, which is to put the company on a profit-making road.”