Photo: Lufthansa Technik
Lufthansa Technik celebrates a major milestone: its 1,000th overhauled Pratt & Whitney Geared Turbofan (GTF) engine. This achievement is a testament to the strength of a globally united team, spanning Poland, Germany, North America, and China. The milestone reinforces Lufthansa Technik’s role as a central partner in the worldwide GTF Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) network and highlights the close collaboration with manufacturer Pratt & Whitney, an RTX business.
EME Aero in Jasionka near Rzeszów in Poland, a joint venture between Lufthansa Technik and MTU Aero Engines, has become one of the world’s most advanced service centres for GTF engines. From quick turns to complete overhauls of all GTF variants for the Airbus A320neo, A220, and Embraer E-Jet fleets, EME Aero covers the full spectrum of engine maintenance. With over 1,200 employees and two test stands, the company plans to increase capacity to over 500 shop visits per year by 2028.
Photo: EME Aero
Lufthansa Technik AERO Alzey (LTAA) has also grown significantly in recent years, solidifying its role as a pioneer in the GTF network. Since 2018, LTAA has specialised in the PW1500G engine for the Airbus A220 family. To meet rising demand, capacity has been continuously expanded, most recently with a new 10,000-square-meter logistics centre. The team in Alzey recently celebrated the induction of their 300th GTF engine.
The network-wide achievement also reflects the result of a collaborative team effort, which began in Hamburg. Over seven years, the engine shops there overhauled around 200 GTF engines, building up expertise and qualifying international teams. In mid-2024, the team handed over to partner locations, which are now continuing the program at full speed.
The network’s success is based on major overhauls in the workshops, but also on highly specialized operations directly at customer sites. Lufthansa Technik’s Mobile Engine Services ensure engines are returned to service quickly and minimize operational downtime. To support growing fleets, this special GTF expertise has been established at four strategically located sites: Frankfurt, Montreal, Tulsa, and Shenzhen.
“This milestone of 1,000 engines is a powerful testament to our partnership with Pratt & Whitney and the ultimate proof that our collaborative network approach is a success,” said Derrick Siebert, Vice President Engine Services at Lufthansa Technik. “We haven’t just built up capacity: we have created a system in which each site contributes its strengths. This enables us to act flexibly as a team within our network and prove ourselves to be the reliable partner for the growing GTF fleet worldwide.”
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