On July 21, Lufthansa Technik’s new facility in Aguadilla, Puerto
Rico has started operations with its first overhaul line on time.
Just 11 months after ground-breaking in August 2014 the first Airbus
A320 from US-carrier Spirit Airlines arrived for a C-Check.

Lufthansa Technik Puerto Rico (LTPR) is FAA Part 145 and EASA Part
145 approved. Initial customers are Airbus A320 family aircraft
operators, Spirit Airlines and JetBlue Airways, from the Americas. A
second overhaul line is planned to be operational in November,
followed by three more lines until early 2017 to include Boeing 737
by then.

“Lufthansa Technik Puerto Rico has been founded to strengthen
significantly our service portfolio in the Americas, one of the most
important MRO markets worldwide. I would like to thank Governor
Alejandro García-Padilla and his team for their comprehensive support
and the excellent partnership which we could establish over the past
2 years”, said Dr. Johannes Bussmann, Chairman of the Executive Board
of Lufthansa Technik AG. “And of course, I also would like to thank
our launching customers, Spirit Airlines and JetBlue Airways, for the
trust they have set in us in the forefront of this day. With the
arrival of the first A320 Lufthansa Technik Puerto Rico becomes
operational. Management and staff can be really proud of what they
have achieved so far.”

“Today we begin to see the results of one of the most important
projects of the economic agenda of this administration. Even in the
midst of the fiscal situation our country is facing, we continue
working to carry out those strategies which result in economic
benefits for our Island. Today, this MRO is finally a reality. The
agreement between the government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
and Lufthansa Technik begins to translate into work and the facility
begins to offer its services. Nonetheless, this is only the
beginning. We will continue to see these facilities become the
economic motor of this region both because of the jobs they create
and their national and international alliances. Results such as these
are the ones that guarantee that Puerto Rico has the capacity to
overcome our present and inherited economic situation and achieve
sustainable growth, as we unite outside of political party lines and
commit to radically transform the way in which our government and our
economy operates”, said Governor Alejandro García-Padilla.

“We are thrilled to be Lufthansa Technik’s first customer in Puerto
Rico,” said Spirit CEO Ben Baldanza. “We’ve had a long history with
them as they have provided excellent support on our Airbus fleet
through inventory, parts repairs and Reliability Engineering support.
We’re excited about the next chapter as they provide heavy
maintenance airframe support in Puerto Rico.”

“This is a fantastic moment for us”, said Elmar Lutter, CEO of
Lufthansa Technik Puerto Rico. “I would like to thank my team which
has carefully planned and worked hard for this moment since the
beginning of this project 2 years ago. Now we can focus on the next
milestones which are the ramp-up of the operations, the further
development of our capabilities and the constant training of our
highly motivated employees. I’m sure that Lufthansa Technik Puerto
Rico will become an internationally acknowledged center of excellence
for base maintenance services, soon.”

Currently, about 140 highly qualified employees have been trained and
are working for LTPR. It is planned to grow up to a workforce of 400
in the next 2 years. The facility extends over a total area of
215,000 square feet. In its final configuration it will offer five
lines for base and heavy maintenance checks (C-, IL- and D-checks),
along with other maintenance work on narrow body aircraft. By using
state-of-the-art technologies it is even possible to paint aircraft
in the hangar while overhaul work is being conducted in parallel.

Thanks to the geographic location of Lufthansa Technik Puerto Rico in
Aguadilla, on the west edge of Puerto Rico, it is within flying
distance of all Airbus A320 family aircraft in the Americas.