MONTREAL - Discussions are in place in an attempt to reopen the Aveos aircraft maintenance plant, which employed some 1,800 workers in Montreal, confirmed the Fonds de solidarité FTQ Monday.

"What is important is to identify a strategic buyer who is interested in coming forward for the company. The Fonds de solidarité doesn't repair aircrafts. We need to find a company that is knowledgeable in that field," he said.

The fund, which helps develop local businesses, said it may be interested in investing because its primary goal is maintaining and creating jobs. The decision has not yet been made, however, said spokesperson Patrick McQuilken.

"No formal recovery committee has been established, but there are discussions taking place between union representatives, representatives from business and government to find a solution," said McQuilken.

McQuilken said the priority will be to find a buyer able to perform the aircraft maintenance work.

"What is important is to identify a strategic buyer who is interested in coming forward for the company. The Fonds de solidarité does not repair aircrafts. We must find a company that is knowledgeable in that field," he said.

Former employees put on job fair

Meantime, hundreds of former Aveos employees were in attendance Monday at an employment fair that workers organized in hopes of finding new jobs.

Organizers had been expecting about 250 of the suddenly-unemployed aircraft maintenance workers to attend but about twice that number jammed the halls.

The first of the two job fairs with more than 22 recruiting agencies was scheduled to run until early afternoon at the Novotel Hotel near Trudeau Airport.

"They're helping them move on, they're helping them get placed," said Christine Paslawsky, who helped organize the meeting.

"This kind of venue gives hope. It gives people an ability to see their colleagues once again and interact, get to say goodbye, which we didn't have a chance to do when the doors closed," she said.

The second event, with some 18 prospective employers, including several in the aerospace industry, will follow on April 12.

The initiative was championed by a few former Aveos employees who were also terminated March 20 when the Montreal-based company announced plans to liquidate under creditor protection.

Employees began to line up before 8:30 a.m. to ensure they were among the first to meet with recruiters, said spokeswoman Pascale Lambert, who had worked in marketing for Aveos.

Lambert said that they have established a bank of 500 CVs to distribute to employers. Advisors from Jobboom and Service Canada were also present to offer employment-seeking strategies.

Former employees will also be able to benefit from the professional advice of consultants in their job search.

2,600 out of work

Aveos Fleet Performance has shut down three main plants in Vancouver, Winnipeg and Montreal, as well as other facilities in Edmonton, Calgary and Trenton and Mississauga, Ont.

More than 2,600 Aveos employees lost their jobs.

Aveos was formed after Air Canada (TSX:AC.B) spun off its technical services division in 2007.

The company did most of the repair and heavy maintenance work on Air Canada planes, but decided to cease operations because it was no longer getting sufficient work from the airline.

Some of the former workers interviewed by CTV Montreal expressed hope that the facilities could be revived and workers brought back, but others said that they would believe it when it happens.

With a file from The Canadian Press