A couple of years ago, a small aviation-services company in Eagan noticed that a Canadian firm took a new name — its name, Global Aviation Services.
Then, that other company started doing business for Sun Country Airlines at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. And then, it got into a fight with Sun Country and left. Air travelers and unpaid workers turned irate. Lawsuit and regulatory investigations followed.
All were meant for Global Aviation Services Inc. of Toronto but instead landed on its corporate doppelgänger, Global Aviation Services LLC of Eagan. For nearly a year now, says Gina Coleal, an executive at the Global in Eagan, "we've always had to prove that we are not the bad Global."
In addition to lost time and money, the Eagan company has had more trouble hiring in an already-tight labor market. Prospective workers wrongly think it jilted previous employees. And in another twist, the Canadian firm even paid some of its bills with the Eagan firm's money.
The entanglement of the two companies began at the airport in Tampa, Fla., two years ago. But it grew because of the work at Sun Country.
The airline, also based in Eagan, decided it could save money by not directly hiring and controlling about 350 of its airport workers. It sought a contractor to manage people who check in passengers, handle bags and clean planes. Early last year, it tapped Global of Toronto for the job, even though the firm had no prior experience at MSP. The Sun Country contract immediately doubled that firm's U.S. employee base.
Within weeks, executives at both Sun Country and Global of Toronto realized they'd made a mistake. They ended the deal last summer as Sun Country grappled with flight delays, long lines, a spike in lost luggage and other problems. Two months ago, Sun Country sued Global of Toronto for the failures.
"All our problems started back when Sun Country announced Global would be doing its ground handling at MSP," said Brad Osborn, founder and chief executive of Global of Eagan. "Now, every person asks us if we are being sued by Sun Country."