Airport manager revokes handling company’s licence over €13M debt

Airport handler Groundforce has accumulated, since March 2020, a debt of 13 million euros to ANA – Portugal’s airports manager in occupancy fees at domestic airports, an official source from ANA told Lusa.

“Groundforce occupies airport spaces for which fees are due as per legislation in force,” the same source explained, recalling that “the occupation of these spaces is subject to a licence”.

“Due to non-payment since March 2020, and after exhausting all avenues to receive the amounts owed at all airports in the ANA network, exceeding 13 million euros, ANA is forced to take legally provided measures, with a view to settling the situation”.

“ANA confirms that it sent on 7 July a proposal for deliberation to revoke the licence for occupation of spaces, at Faro and Madeira airports, on which it is still awaiting a response from Groundforce“.

Lusa reported on Monday that ANA will move forward with the revocation of Groundforce’s occupation licence, alleging that the ‘handling’ company owes 769,600 euros in occupation fees, according to a document to which the agency had access.

“As of 29 June, the total amount of 769,669.31 euros is owed to ANA S.A., in occupation fees”.

Therefore, the Executive Committee of ANA has decided to “revoke the occupation licence 7460/2006/AM, with effect from the final decision to be taken in the administrative procedure”, and Groundforce should “deliver the spaces affected by that licence free and vacant”, according to the document.

Lusa contacted Groundforce about this draft deliberation, but the company declined to comment.

Groundforce is 50.1 percent owned by Pasogal and 49.9 percent by the TAP group, which in 2020 became 72.5 percent owned by the Portuguese state.

TAP said on Saturday that it has no overdue payments to Groundforce, after the ‘handling’ company accused the airline of having a debt of 12 million euros for services already provided.