Lufthansa Technik breaks ground on new 55,000-square-meter facility in Portugal
- Three-digit million-euro investment in future site to create 700 jobs
- Portuguese Prime Minister hails project’s significance for the region and the country as a whole
- Lufthansa Group CEO Carsten Spohr: Portugal is one of the most strategically important countries for us
Lufthansa Technik marked a key milestone today by officially breaking ground on its 55,000-square-meter facility in Santa Maria da Feira, south of Porto. Lufthansa Technik Portugal, founded in 2024, will create up to 700 new jobs in the aviation industry over the coming years. Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro highlighted the project’s value for the country at the groundbreaking ceremony, alongside representatives from politics, business and partner organisations.
The Portuguese Prime Minister said: “We are here for the benefit of the country, promoting a development strategy alongside our partners, Lufthansa Technik and Lufthansa Group. We are the primary stakeholders in ensuring the longevity of this partnership. I am confident that we will reinforce our political, economic, and working relationship with Germany.”
The new facility of Lufthansa Technik Portugal, a wholly owned subsidiary of Lufthansa Technik, is dedicated to the repair of engine parts and aircraft components. As part of the Lufthansa Group, Lufthansa Technik is the world’s leading provider of aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services. With its three-digit million-euro investment in Portugal, the company will further expand its capabilities and strengthen its global network. Start of operations is expected in 2028.
Carsten Spohr, CEO Lufthansa Group, stated: “Today’s groundbreaking in Santa Maria da Feira is a visible and powerful symbol of what the Lufthansa Group stands for in Portugal: a reliable, long-term industrial partner. For more than 70 years, we have been present in this country. With this investment by Lufthansa Technik, we are creating 700 highly skilled jobs and positioning Portugal as a cornerstone of European aviation maintenance. Portugal has become one of the most strategically important locations for our Group beyond our home markets, and this facility reflects the confidence we place in Portuguese talent, capabilities, and ambition. This depth of commitment across industry and innovation also underpins our strong interest in TAP Air Portugal as a natural extension of the partnership with Portugal we have been building for decades – with the country serving as Europe’s gateway to South America, Africa and the Portuguese-speaking world.”
The groundbreaking marks a visible milestone for the Lufthansa Group in Portugal within a broader industrial vision. This investment extends well beyond a single facility, spanning maintenance excellence, a new TravelTech and AI Hub in Northern Portugal and a new Portuguese entity of help alliance, the aid organisation of the Lufthansa Group, Associação help alliance Portugal. It is the first time a help alliance organisation has been founded outside of Germany in Europe, underscoring the social commitment of the Lufthansa Group in the home market.
The Group’s engagement in Portugal reflects a multi-dimensional approach: today, seven Lufthansa Group airline brands (Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Edelweiss, Eurowings and Discover Airlines) operate 353 weekly flights to the Portuguese destinations Lisbon, Porto, Faro, Madeira and the Azores. With more than 500 employees already working across the Lufthansa Group’s entities in Portugal, and a combined ambition to create in total more than 1,000 direct jobs across various businesses in the years ahead, the Lufthansa Group is establishing one of its most significant employment platforms outside its home markets.
Harald Gloy, Chief Operations Officer of Lufthansa Technik, commented at the event: “Lufthansa Technik has big plans and strong ambitions, and Portugal will be a key pillar of our continued growth and long-term success. With this new facility in Santa Maria da Feira, we will put a key part of our strategy into action and build a site that will play an important role in the aviation industry. Establishing Lufthansa Technik Portugal here was only possible due to the close and trusted partnership we have built with Portuguese policymakers. Therefore, I would like to sincerely thank the Government, the trade and investment agency AICEP and the City of Santa Maria da Feira for their strong support and shared commitment. Today’s groundbreaking marks the start of an exciting chapter and clearly demonstrates what can be achieved when the right partners work closely together with a common purpose.”
During the event, Lufthansa Technik Portugal and AICEP (Agência para o Investimento e Comércio Externo de Portugal) also signed their final agreement on investment incentives for economic development – further underscoring AICEP’s strong support, which has been instrumental in making the construction of the new facility possible.
Madalena Oliveira e Silva, Chairwoman and CEO of AICEP, said: “The investment contract being signed today represents one of the most significant aerospace projects ever supported by AICEP. By creating 700 highly qualified jobs and bringing cutting-edge capabilities to Portugal, this investment will reinforce the country’s position as a leading aviation and MRO hub in Europe. We are proud to have been side by side with Lufthansa Technik throughout this process and look forward to supporting the company’s continued growth and success in Portugal. The groundbreaking ceremony of Lufthansa Technik’s new facility in Santa Maria da Feira marks an important milestone for Portugal’s aerospace industry and a strong vote of confidence in the country.”
Also Amadeu Albergaria, the Mayor of Santa Maria da Feira, has closely supported the project since its inception in 2024 and stated in his speech: “The groundbreaking ceremony of Lufthansa Technik is a milestone in the recent history of Santa Maria da Feira and a source of particular pride for me, both as a citizen and as Mayor of Santa Maria da Feira. This structural investment opens a new chapter for our region, bringing more industry, more skilled jobs, more development, and greater international recognition.”
Torsten Raabe, Managing Director of Lufthansa Technik Portugal, added: “Standing here today to celebrate the groundbreaking of Lufthansa Technik Portugal is deeply meaningful to me personally, and it is a tribute to the entire team that has worked so hard to bring us to this point and lay the foundation for what lies ahead. It is great to see what we have already achieved together and how we will keep building on it in the years to come. We will create something truly significant for Lufthansa Technik Portugal and for everyone who joins us on this journey.”
Aviation Jeta is an aviation news platform covering airlines, airports, aircraft, and global aviation developments. We publish accurate, well-researched, and detailed aviation news and industry insights from around the world.
