Lufthansa Tecknik in 60 million euro investment
Germany's Lufthansa Tecknik aircraft maintenance company said it is to invest € 60 million on new facilities in Malta to handle Airbus A330 and A340 aircraft. This enlargement and upgrade is to translate itself in the creation of 550 new jobs and was approved by the supervisory board of Lufthansa Technik. This announcement was done by Minister Austin Gatt, in the presence of Louis Giordmaina CEO of Lufthansa Technik Malta, during a visit to the present hanger of Lufthansa Technik Malta in Luqa. The company has been operating in Malta for the last four years. It employs 140 people and has 55 apprentices. The first four years of the company were a positive experience in such a way that the company has decided to upgrade its facility. This upgrade will mean that the company will start to undertake to accommodate the A380 aircraft. The Government, through Malta Industrial Parks, is constructing a new hangar to replace the existing one. It will be large enough to host a plane of any size in the fleet of the German airline. Malta Industrial Parks will be investing in the development of the hanger and will lease it to Lufthansa Technik for 30 years starting on the 1st of January 2009. The long period of lease is a sign of the commitment to Malta of Lufthansa Technik to Malta. This expansion will create a minimum of 550 jobs. These jobs are guaranteed in the memorandum of understanding. The scale of the investment is appropriate considering Lufthansa's undertaking to generate new high-earning, high-value added employment for Malta. Minister Austin Gatt said that this announcement is a sign that Malta exceeds investors expectations. "Lufthansa Technik tried us out on a small scale and realised within four years it could go along with us for a 30 year commitment", he said. The target sectors we identified for the future of industry are realistic and we are getting a return on our investment. Aviation was one of our target sectors since 2003 and confirmed in the 2006 industrial policy plan. In a statement issued by Luftahnsa Technik AG's Chief Executive Product and Servvices, Dr Thomas Stuger, stated that "Our decision today will mark a new era for the Maltese aviation industry."

Would be great to start seeing A340s in Malta. And A380s ... now that is one hell of a prospect.

And A330's as well Charles :)

Yes, but it also means no more Park 4. I can already see the massive hangar built , Park 4 lined with Blast deflectors and us having to take to the ladders. No more nightshots in Park 4 :( Well, at leastlet's hope they won't all come in at night!

German maintenance, repair & overhaul provider Lufthansa Technik is planning to set up new maintenance & overhaul capabilities for Airbus A330/A340 C- and D-Checks in Malta (up to the A340-600). The supervisory board of Lufthansa Technik approved a multi-million EUR investment for the bay infrastructure, tooling and ground equipment. A Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Malta and Lufthansa Technik Malta was negotiated and signed over the last weeks whereby the hangar facility itself will be constructed by Malta Industrial Parks Ltd. and rented to Lufthansa Technik Malta. Subject to the finalization of a new collective agreement with the local trade unions, the facility should be up and running as early as 2008. The new investments will be undertaken by Lufthansa Technik thereby increasing its shares in Lufthansa Technik Malta. The success of this project is dependent on the availability of trained personnel. Currently Lufthansa Technik Malta sponsors over 50 apprentices undergoing training at the Malta College of Arts Science and Technology which is also investing in new courses to meet with the growing demand of the industry. “With the growing demand for wide-body maintenance and overhaul on Airbus A330 and A340 aircraft over the next years, we need to ensure a sufficient availability of resources in our worldwide network“, said Dr. Thomas Stüger, Chief Executive Product and Services, Lufthansa Technik AG. “Our decision today will mark a new era for the Maltese aviation industry and we are looking forward to finalize our negotiations with our partners in Malta.” “The outstanding quality and service of our team here gives us the chance to go for even new business opportunities. We are totally aware that our customers not only expect the best performance from Lufthansa Technik Malta but also the best price”, explained Louis Giordimaina, Chief Executive Officer of Lufthansa Technik Malta. “With more than 500 additional employees, Lufthansa Technik Malta will also make a significant contribution to Malta’s economical growth.” Lufthansa Technik Malta which has been founded in 2002 is set up as a “Center of Excellence” for C-checks of Boeing and Airbus narrow-body airplanes within the Luft-hansa Technik Group and operates with 150 employees currently. In January 2005 Lufthansa Technik Malta entered this market also for the Boeing 737NG (Next Generation consisting of Boeing 737-600/-700/-800/-900. Lufthansa Technik Malta is EASA Part-145 certified by the Department of Civil Aviation Malta (DCA). The company already holds approvals for the Boeing 737 Classic (737-300/-400/-500) and Airbus A320 family with both types of engines. To date the company has carried out over 200 C checks. Lufthansa Technik Malta Malta International Airport website