Lufthansa Technik Malta receives Airbus A350 base maintenance approval

Lufthansa Technik Malta is officially ready to perform all work required for the Base Maintenance of the Airbus A350-900, as the company has been licensed by the German Federal Aviation Office (LBA).

The granting of the "Base Maintenance Approval" certificate by the LBA marks the successful end of an intense period of preparation, in which employees were trained, processes were established and infrastructure was adapted.

Lufthansa Technik Malta kicked off this extensive program in November 2016 and has now been rewarded accordingly for its efforts. The first Airbus A350 is expected to arrive for base maintenance services at Lufthansa Technik Malta in spring 2019.

Lufthansa Technik's CEO Marcus Motschenbacher said: "More than 50 employees of Lufthansa Technik Malta spent just over three months in personal preparation acquiring the necessary qualifications and practical training to enable them to work on the A350. Two out of six base maintenance lines at the facility have been outfitted to accommodate the A350-900 with an investment of over EUR3.2m to cover the first C-Checks. A substantial investment in new tooling has included the purchase of more than 280 different tools including engine removal tooling."

Extensive docking modifications have also been undertaken in Hangar 1, extending the current capabilities of the mezzanine, wing and tail docks. Investment in a new electrical installation was also made due to the A350's dedicated hydraulic rigs.

This approval cements Lufthansa Technik Malta's pole position as the only Airbus widebody base maintenance provider in the Lufthansa Technik network of European base maintenance facilities. Today, the company is a true stronghold of this network in partnership with its sister companies in Shannon, Berlin, Budapest, Sofia, Hamburg,Manila and Puerto Rico.

Lufthansa Technik Malta forms part of Lufthansa Technik Group which consists of some 35 companies with more than 25,000 employees globally. It is a subsidiary of the Lufthansa Group.