LOTAMS broke ground on Sept. 21 for an aircraft maintenance base in Poland.
"This day will be permanently remembered in the history of our company and the European aviation industry. Let this first shovel be a symbol of our determination, hard work and commitment to creating the future of aviation in Europe. Together we will build something that will become a source of pride not only for us, but for the entire industry. This investment is also our contribution to the development of European aviation infrastructure, which is important in the context of changing challenges related to air transport. We are proud that we can contribute to improving the quality and efficiency of aviation services not only on the Polish market, but also on the European market. I would like to thank all the people involved for their work and the support of the Polish Aviation Group. It is thanks to you that we can realize our vision and transform it into reality," said Aleksandra Juda, president of LOTAMS.
The construction project includes construction of a maintenance hangar with a usable area of nearly 13,000 square meters, a pre-hangar slab and a building providing workshop, technical, social and office facilities at the Rzeszów-Jasionka Airport. The planned completion date is 21 months from the commencement of the construction work.
The hangar will have two slots for base servicing of wide-body aircraft, which can also be flexibly adapted to service smaller aircraft. This will allow, among other things, to perform heavy inspections of PLL LOT Boeing 787s.
Preparations for this investment have been going on for several years. LOTAMS already owns the necessary land (about 10 hectares), has obtained all required permits and has established cooperation with entities that will be responsible for implementing the investment. At the beginning of September, the company selected a general contractor and signed an agreement with the consortium consisting of Polimex Mostostal and Polimex Infrastruktura Sp. z o. o
The investment will be financed mainly from funds from the recapitalization of the company by Polska Grupa Lotnicza.
"This investment is another impulse to develop competences within the Polish Aviation Group in the extremely important and growing segment of aircraft maintenance. Thanks to it, both PLL LOT and foreign carriers will gain a place where highly qualified LOTAMS staff will perform inspections from light to structural. Considering how many carriers outsource the operation of their fleets to the center in Warsaw, I am convinced that here, in Rzeszów, the demand will be equally high, especially in the wide-body aircraft segment," said Katarzyna Lewandowska, who is a member of the Polska Grupa Lotnicza management board.
The investment value is estimated at PLN 216 million. It will be one of the largest investments carried out in the Aviation Valley in Podkarpacie.
"The LOTAMS technical base in Jasionka is a strategic investment increasing the potential of our airport on the aviation market and an important element in the diversification of the company's revenue sources. It is worth emphasizing that this project would not be possible without the initiative and direct involvement of Władysław Ortyl - Marshal of the Podkarpackie Voivodeship, and the decisions that were made within the government administration under the direction of Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki," said Adam Hamryszczak, president of the Rzeszów Airport - Jasionka.
"Entrusting us with the construction of one of the largest and most modern aircraft maintenance bases in Europe is a great honor for us and proof that Polish engineers from Polish companies can and do meet the highest global quality standards. The symbolic first groundbreaking ceremony begins this project, which is so important for the European aviation market. We will make every effort to ensure that the construction started today will be a flagship investment and pride for all of us," said Krzysztof Figat, President of the Management Board of Polimex Mostostal SA, on behalf of the contractor and supervisor.
