Atin Ito First Filipino Community Newspaper in Ontario
Potential partnership with Maharlika Investment Corp.
Lufthansa Technik Philippines (LTP) has conveyed its plans to construct a second hangar at the Clark International Airport (CIA), valued at P8 billion or $150 million, to enhance its aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) operations, in potential partnership with Maharlika Investment Corp. (MIC).
Based on the statement released by the Department of Trade and Industry, it stated that LTP is also mulling a potential partnership with MIC for the planned Clark airport hangar project. Initial discussions are already underway with Maharlika Fund’s President and CEO Rafael Consing Jr., the statement added.
The investment was discussed during a meeting with the Philippine delegation in Germany led by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., LTP President Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Elmar Lutter and DTI Secretary Alfredo E. Pascual.
The proposed second hangar by LTP in the country will cover a two-hectare lot in Clark airport.
The project is expected to complement LTP’s existing 23-hectare technical base and hangar at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Manila.
Around two Airbus A380s are estimated to be able to occupy the hangar. Included in the roster of their airline customers are British Airways, Korean Air, Lufthansa, Emirates, and Qantas.
The project hopes to provide 400 new jobs to Filipinos during its target two-year construction period.
Aside from this project, LTP said a Phase 2 expansion in Clark or another airport in Bulacan or Sangley point, may be possible.
“We appreciate Lufthansa’s recent consideration of Manila as a destination for one of its direct flights from Europe to Southeast Asia. It does not only open opportunities for tourism but also for other business services of Lufthansa that the Philippines can support,” said Pascual during their meeting.
The Philippine delegation, led by President Marcos, remarked that LTP’s plans for the Philippines is a welcome development in their partnership, offering Filipinos with more jobs and strengthening the aerospace sector of the country.
The group also assured LTP that the Philippine government upholds their existing contracts, in regards to new developments in NAIA.
To date, LTP operates eight hangar bays and workshops in the country, employing 2,800 Filipino mechanics, engineers, and support personnel.
The hangar bays conduct heavy maintenance checks, modifications, cabin reconfigurations and retrofit programs, and lease return checks.
In October 2023, LTP said it will invest P15 billion in the Philippines to build more MRO facilities in the country’s airports. — Khrischielle Yalao
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Credit belongs to: www.mb.com.ph
