Lufthansa Technik has achieved important milestones for its upcoming aircraft and engine component maintenance operation in Portugal. The company announced Torsten Raabe as managing director of the new facility, which is set to commence operations in late 2027 following a significant investment.
The Portuguese site, located in Santa Maria da Feira near Porto, has obtained European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Part-145 certification. This approval allows the site to shift from training activities to performing certified maintenance on actual aircraft components. The initial approved component category includes coffee makers, with the first units already received.
Operational activities are already underway, with infrastructure comprising three temporary buildings dedicated to training and initial maintenance work. Additional certifications are expected, and ongoing training includes engine part inspections and repairs, along with preparations for composite engine component work. The workforce is currently composed of 75 employees, with plans to expand employment to over 700 once full operations are achieved.
Lufthansa Group CEO Carsten Spohr emphasized the benefits of Portugal’s labor market, citing it as a more accessible talent pool compared to Hamburg, which faces increasing recruitment challenges. The new Portugal-based facility aims to increase capacity within Lufthansa Technik's broader network, supporting the group's growth and capacity expansion goals.
