Japanese human resources provider Hito Communications (4433: JP) announced that it has acquired FMG Group (Flight Management Group), a company focused on aircraft maintenance, airport ground handling and passenger services, based in Japan.

The price of the transaction is approximately JPY 7.7 billion (USD 53.5 million).

Ground handling refers to the servicing of an aircraft while it is on the ground in the airport.

“The FMG Group, which will become a subsidiary this time, is one of the few influential companies in Japan that can collectively undertake ‘passenger services’ and ‘aircraft maintenance services’ in the area of ​​ground handling at airports,” Hito Communications stated. “There were concerns about labour shortages in this area even before Covid-19, and the situation has become even more serious due to the increase in job separations due to the pandemic and the rapid recovery of inbound demand. Securing and training human resources in this area is an urgent social issue for the public and private sectors.”

Hito said it is currently examining the impact of the transaction on its consolidated business results.

Hito offers temporary staffing, business recruitment and outsourcing, business sales promotion, outsourced sales support, and employee training outsourcing services, as well as recruitment services for individual users in distribution and service sectors.