EMIRATES will be the launch customer of Lufthansa Technik Philippines’ (LTP) new maintenance facility at Clark International Airport under an extended multi-year contract that keeps heavy checks on the Dubai carrier’s Airbus A380 fleet in the country through 2030.
The agreement, announced last Thursday, ranks among ‘the largest by value’ in the history of LTP, the joint venture between Germany’s Lufthansa Technik AG and Lucio Tan-led MacroAsia Corp.
Work under the extended deal is already running at LTP’s existing complex at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) in Manila, where two dedicated base maintenance lines have been assigned to Emirates.
The airline will shift into the Clark site once operations there begin. The company broke ground on the second facility in Pampanga earlier this year.
Holger Beck, president and chief executive officer of LTP, said the contract extends a relationship that has run since 2023.
‘We are delighted to extend the strong cooperation we have built with Emirates over the years, and proud to welcome the airline as our launch customer for our new, second facility in Clark, Pampanga,’ he said.
Beck added: ‘Operating two parallel base maintenance lines dedicated to Emirates’ A380 fleet demonstrates our capability to support complex widebody aircraft. This contract is a clear reflection of continued trust in our proven track record of high-quality and reliable MRO [maintenance, repair and overhaul] services.’
LTP has completed more than 30 A380 checks for Emirates to date. The Gulf carrier operates the world’s largest A380 fleet, making it the anchor customer for any MRO provider certified on the double-deck jet, a shrinking pool since Airbus ended production of the type in 2021.
The company expanded to Clark to relieve capacity constraints at Naia, where slot and land limitations have capped the number of widebody lines LTP can run at any one time.
LTP specializes in the Airbus A330, A340 and A380 and the Boeing 777, and intends to add the Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 to its portfolio.