Lufthansa Technik has reached a significant milestone with the overhaul of its 1,000th Pratt & Whitney Geared Turbofan (GTF) engine, reflecting the expansion of its global engine maintenance network and its collaboration with engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney.
The milestone highlights the role of Lufthansa Technik’s international MRO network, which spans facilities in Poland, Germany, North America and China, supporting operators of modern narrowbody aircraft powered by GTF engines.
GLOBAL GTF MRO NETWORK
International facilities support engine maintenance
EME Aero, located in Jasionka near Rzeszów in Poland, plays a key role in the network. The facility is a joint venture between Lufthansa Technik and MTU Aero Engines and provides maintenance services for GTF engines used on the Airbus A320neo, Airbus A220 and Embraer E-Jet aircraft families.
The centre offers services ranging from quick-turn maintenance to complete engine overhauls. With more than 1,200 employees and two test stands, EME Aero plans to expand its capacity to more than 500 shop visits annually by 2028.
Lufthansa Technik AERO Alzey (LTAA) in Germany has also expanded its operations. Since 2018 the site has specialised in the PW1500G engine used on the Airbus A220 family. To support increased demand, the facility has expanded its capacity, including the addition of a 10,000-square-metre logistics centre. The Alzey team recently inducted its 300th GTF engine.
NETWORK DEVELOPMENT
Hamburg operations built early expertise
The development of Lufthansa Technik’s GTF overhaul capability began in Hamburg, where approximately 200 GTF engines were overhauled over seven years. The work helped build technical expertise and supported the qualification of teams across the wider network.
In mid-2024, responsibility for further overhaul activity transitioned to partner locations within the global network, allowing the programme to expand across multiple sites.
FIELD SUPPORT CAPABILITIES
Mobile services support airline operations
In addition to workshop overhauls, Lufthansa Technik provides on-site support through its Mobile Engine Services, enabling rapid return-to-service for aircraft engines and helping reduce operational downtime for airlines.
To support the growing global GTF fleet, specialised expertise has been established at locations in Frankfurt, Montreal, Tulsa and Shenzhen.
Derrick Siebert, Vice President Engine Services at Lufthansa Technik, said the milestone reflects the collaborative approach within the company’s global maintenance network and its partnership with Pratt & Whitney.
SOURCE AND IMAGE: LUFTHANSA TECHNIK
