Lufthansa Technik Keeps High Level of Workload in the VIP-Completion Business

Dec. 11, 2012
Arrival of second VIP-Boeing 747-8 expected soon

Lufthansa Technik's "VIP & Executive Jet Solutions" Division is in the final preparations for the second VIP Boeing 747-8 completion in Hamburg. The aircraft of an undisclosed customer is expected to arrive before end of December. The VIP-business experts of Lufthansa Technik are currently preparing the installation of a unique cabin interior and a state-of-the art in-flight entertainment & cabin management system. The first VIP 747-8 is already undergoing a completion at Lufthansa Technik in Hamburg since its arrival at the end of August.

The contract for the second 747-8 was signed during the Dubai Airshow in 2011. With the arrival of this aircraft Lufthansa Technik will work on three widebody and one narrowbody aircraft completion in parallel in Hamburg.

Additionally, another narrowbody-line is currently used for a major refurbishment project by Lufthansa Technik's VIP-maintenance business unit.

Lufthansa Technik's US-Subsidiary BizJet International which is focusing on narrowbody aircraft completions on its three lines plans to open a fourth line in the first half of 2013. Due to the partnership with Airbus in the ACJ318 completion program and individual projects just a few free slots are left until mid of 2014.

"Thanks to our careful strategy and the precisely controlled build-up of capacities and capabilities we will be able to handle this high workload without any compromise in quality or adherence to schedules.

The current projects give us a sound capacity utilization until end of 2014 and we have some promising talks with potential customers to utilize our capacities also beyond this date," said Walter Heerdt, Senior Vice President Marketing & Sales at Lufthansa Technik. "We are also pleased about the business perspective for our VIP-maintenance services in 2013. Our tailor-made products offer highly individualized solutions for our VIP customers including mobile service teams which maintain the aircraft at its homebase."

Lufthansa Technik prepared the completion of the new 747-8 aircraft types with intensive engineering planning, qualification programs, assembly of all the production resources and implementation of the necessary modifications in the aircraft hangar. Both aircraft are expected to be delivered back to their owners in 2014.

Together with its US-subsidiary BizJet International, Lufthansa Technik has to date completed and modified over 80 widebody and narrowbody aircraft for private and government customers, among them more than 15 Boeing 747 jumbos.

Lufthansa Technik

With over 30 subsidiaries and affiliated companies and more than 26,000 staff worldwide, the Lufthansa Technik Group is one of the world's leading independent providers of aircraft-related technical services. Lufthansa Technik's portfolio covers the entire service spectrum of maintenance, repair, overhaul, modification and conversion, engines and components for passenger aircraft.