Proffice starts cooperation for air traffic services
Proffice AB has started a strategic cooperation with the air traffic control company ACR, Aviation Capacity Resources AB, in order to offer adequate staffing of most of the positions within airport operations.
ACR will work primarily within air traffic control operations and Proffice, who is a minority owner, will act as a subcontractor of flexible staffing services to complement ACR’s operations. Through ACR, Proffice will add a niche to its business within the airport industry which is a step towards Proffice’s ambition to increase its exposure towards airports in general, where a high demand for flexible staffing solutions is expected in the years ahead.
The Swedish market is positive towards ACR’s business concept and a number of airports have cancelled their existing contracts with the national Luftfartsverket (the Swedish Civil Aviation Administration). Deregulation and harmonisation of the air traffic control administration in Sweden and the rest of Europe means that there is room for contractors with focus on a high service level and cost effective business operation solutions. Airports in Sweden are often operated at a loss and must constantly fight to transform fixed to variable costs. ACR’s tool is to deliver a transparent and cost effective price model which, in the near future, will secure a realistic pricing for the industry.
ACR Aviation Capacity Resources AB
The Swedish market for management of air traffic control services was deregulated during 2004. This means that Luftfartsverket (the Swedish Civil Aviation Administration) previously had a market monopoly, which has now been opened up for new actors. Air traffic control services include services managing all air traffic in progress mainly managed from airport traffic control towers. The market for air traffic control services in Sweden has a turnover of approximately SEK 2 billion per year and for the whole Nordic region the turnover is approximately SEK 6 billion. In addition to tower services, the Swedish air traffic control market also include three control centrals directing air traffic.
Today, Luftfartsverket (the Swedish Civil Aviation Administration) operates some 40 airport traffic control towers in Sweden. A number of airports have cancelled their contracts the last few days.
Aviation Capacity Resources - ACR was founded in 2004 and is a Swedish company which initially will focus on operating air traffic control services in Sweden at private and public airports. In addition to this, ACR has recently signed an agreement with Saudi Arabia. During 2005-2007 they will set up and operate a school for training air traffic controllers for the Saudi Arabian air force.
Jan Blyckert, Managing Director and one of three founders of ACR, has previously held several positions as an air traffic controller in the state-owned Luftfartsverket. Jan was, prior to that, MD at SATSA, the Swedish Air Traffic Services Academy in Malmö-Sturup, which is one of the leading air traffic control schools globally. He has also been responsible for management of all operations outside the terminals at Arlanda airport. Jan will be able to take advantage of his solid experience from air traffic control services in the new company and at the same time create new forms of co-operations for airports which will benefit the expansion of air traffic. The board, with the Chairman Jan Carlzon at the head, works actively to support ACR’s expansion.
There has been a great response from the market and several air traffic controllers have been in contact about job opportunities. The company has already started to tie up a number of persons to be able to deliver on their promises to both customers and authorities. The goal is to operate 5-6 air traffic control units. ACR’s long term goal is to have half of the Swedish market, which is at least 18 air traffic control units.
After the set up in Sweden, ACR’s goal is to continue outside the country.
After the company’s issue of new shares in the summer 2004 and dilution of equity, ACR is owned by the founders’ holding company, the board, Proffice AB and approximately ten private investors.
For more information, please contact
Hans Uhrus, Senior Vice President Corporate Communications Proffice AB,
Phone: + 46 8 787 17 00 or + 46 73 3434 100, hans.uhrus@proffice.com
Alf Johansson, CEO Proffice AB, Phone: + 46 8 787 17 00 or + 46 73 3434 000, alf.johansson@proffice.com
Jan Blyckert, MD ACR, Aviation Capacity Resources AB, Phone: + 46 8 440 49 00 or
076 871 22 61, jb@acr-sweden.se
Jan Carlzon, Chairman ACR, Aviation Capacity Resources AB, Phone: + 46 8 440 49 00 or
070 731 06 20, acr@acr-sweden.se
Please also see www.proffice.com
Proffice is the Nordic flexible staffing company. We have more than 10,000 employees and provide temporary staffing, recruitment services, outsourcing, and career & development programs. The Proffice share is listed on Stockholmsbörsen (Stockholm Stock Exchange).
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