While one might think it is simply the maintenance branch of the German flag carrier, the Lufthansa Technik Group has over 35 subsidiaries worldwide. With a workforce of over 20,000, it is one of the world's leading providers of technical aircraft services, and it just celebrated the opening of yet another aircraft overhaul hangar in Manila in the Philippines. This will add an extra three lines to the location's already existing seven and can house an Airbus A380.
The completion of the 9,000 square meter hangar was initially scheduled for September 2020, but as with so many other plans that year, it had to be postponed. However, it was finally inaugurated with a festive ceremony on Wednesday. The latest addition to the facilities at Manila Airport can be configured according to requirements to provide room for up to four narrowbody aircraft or one widebody aircraft and two narrowbodies. Alternatively, it could accommodate an Airbus A380.
Elmar Lutter, President and Chief Executive Officer of Lufthansa Technik Philippines, commented during the ceremony,
"This is a very special milestone for Lufthansa Technik Philippines in the 22nd year of our existence. It marks a transition from some of the most difficult times we have experienced as a company due to the pandemic to the current phase of noticeable recovery. This is concrete, tangible evidence that we see clearer skies ahead of us"
Capacity increase of 20%
The additional facilities, the fourth hangar in total in Manila, increase Lufthansa Technik Phillippines' capacity by 20%. Furthermore, it creates an additional 275 jobs with the company. Rainer Janke, Vice President for Marketing & Sales at Lufthansa Technik Philippines, added his thoughts on the new chapter,
"The opening of the new hangar is Lufthansa Technik Philippines' response to the increasing demand for aircraft maintenance, as travel continues to increase and a majority of the worldwide fleets are now back in operation. We are pleased to offer our customers first-class service and with reliable overhauls provide a valuable contribution to the stabilization of their flight operations,"
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Lufthansa Technik Philippines
The subsidiary Lufthansa Technik Philippines was founded in 2000. It is a joint venture between the Lufthansa Technik Group and the MacroAsia Corporation, the largest aviation service provider in the Philippines, with the two owning 51% and 49%, respectively. While it specializes in MRO for the Airbus A320 family, it also provides services for the A330, A340, and A380, as well as the Boeing 777 family of aircraft.
It has 2,600 employees spread across several cities in the country, which besides Manila, include Cebu, Clark, Davao, Kalibo, and Puerto Princesa. The company also runs a range of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects across the Philippines, which include the construction of new classrooms, and rehabilitation and upgrading of school facilities and equipment, with more than 60 beneficiaries.