Lufthansa Technik and YYC Calgary Airport Break Ground on Engine Maintenance Facility

Lufthansa Technik and Calgary Airports broke ground on a new engine maintenance facility at YYC Calgary Airport.

Representing an investment of 120-million Canadian dollars in Western Canada’s aerospace sector, the planned engine repair shop and integrated test cell are set to establish a new benchmark in aircraft engine maintenance and repair.

Over the next two years, a 150,000-square-foot (about 14,000-square-meter) engine repair shop will be developed in cooperation with Calgary Airports for Lufthansa Technik Canada, a wholly owned Canadian subsidiary of Lufthansa Technik.

The facility will focus on near-wing and quick-turn services for CFM International LEAP-1B engines, powering the growing Boeing 737 MAX fleet. The site will also feature Canada’s first engine test cell for latest-generation aircraft engines.

A minimum of 160 permanent jobs will be created directly at Lufthansa Technik Canada by 2030, with an additional 170 temporary jobs during the construction phase. The engine repair station and test cell are scheduled to be operational by 2027.

“The increasing number of new aircraft leads to a growing demand for maintenance capacities for their engines. At our future maintenance facility in Calgary, we can provide much needed services for next generation engines to a wide range of North American airline customers,” said Georg Fanta, vice president Commercials Engine Services at Lufthansa Technik.

Fanta continued, “It represents a strategic step forward in Lufthansa Technik’s ambitious growth plan and reaffirms our long-term commitment to innovation, performance and people in the Americas region.”

Lufthansa Technik Canada has been collaborating closely with Calgary Airports to specify the design and logistics of the complex.

The airport authority oversees the financing, planning, construction and deployment phases of the facility as a key component of YYC AeroNex, a hub of world-class aviation support and training services developed at Calgary Airport and focused on a long-term strategy to build the aviation industry in Calgary. A long-term lease agreement has been signed with Lufthansa Technik Canada.

“This engine repair station and test cell will boost regional economic development and reinforce Calgary’s role as a gateway for aviation innovation and excellence. It will provide airlines access to world-class facilities to ensure reliable, efficient and lower-cost maintenance services,” said Chris Dinsdale, president and CEO of Calgary Airports.

Dinsdale added, “The construction of a new engine test cell is a rare event globally, making this a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our community and the aviation industry in Alberta.”

Recruitment efforts have been underway to ensure talent is in place for when the facility opens. Since announcing the project in February, Lufthansa Technik Canada has hired 30 colleagues, filling initial roles such as Aircraft Engine Production Planner, Production Support Engineer and Project Manager.

The company plans to recruit at least 50 more employees by year’s end and is actively seeking candidates for positions including Engine Mechanics and Technical Trainers.

“Tremendous application numbers show that the fascination for aviation and specifically aircraft maintenance and repair remain strong in Western Canada,” stated Max Schramm, president and CEO of Lufthansa Technik Canada.

Schramm continued, “This facility represents not just a multi-million-dollar investment in infrastructure but also in the people and future of aviation in the region. Together with our local partners we aim to strengthen and grow Calgary’s aerospace ecosystem.”

To further prepare for operations, Lufthansa Technik Canada will soon open a dedicated training center in Calgary, featuring four bays to support technician education and live training events.

Additional collaboration with industry partners and Western Canadian educational institutions aims to ensure a pipeline of skilled talent to meet the rising demand for aviation professionals in Alberta. This includes a partnership with the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT), formalized in March through a Memorandum of Understanding to jointly develop aviation training programs.

The project is underpinned by collaboration with key local and regional stakeholders. Lufthansa Technik Canada receives funding from the Government of Alberta through the Investment and Growth Fund (IGF) and the Aerospace Workforce Development Grant, along with support from Calgary Economic Development through the Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund (OCIF).

Calgary Airports’ facility development is backed by the Canada Infrastructure Bank as part of a comprehensive financing package for aviation infrastructure, as well as Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan) through its Community Economic Development and Diversification (CEDD) program. WestJet has committed to being the first customer of the new facility.