Story ID: 
Lufthansa Technik Opens Milan Maintenance Center
By: David A. Lombardo
Caption: Lufthansa Technik has opened a new aircraft maintenance and component services facility on the Italian airport Malpensa.
Word Count: 171
Lufthansa Technik has opened a new aircraft maintenance and component services facility on the Italian airport Malpensa. Lufthansa Technik Milan (LTMIL) is offering component and planned maintenance services up to A checks, aircraft-on-ground support and troubleshooting. Initially the company will maintain the Airbus A320 and A330/A340 series and the Boeing 737, but a spokesman for the company said it is prepared to expand its services to additional aircraft types to meet market demand. Operating under EASA 145, LTMIL originally opened in spring 2008 as Lufthansa Technik Component Services Milan responsible for regional material support. According to the company, by extending its aircraft maintenance capability, Lufthansa Technik is able to offer a significantly wider range of technical services at Malpensa, ranging from single maintenance events to full support programs. The company has rented a 68,900-sq-ft hangar that offers space for up to four narrowbody or one widebody plus two narrowbody aircraft. LTMIL plans to invest about  $11.8 million over the next five years in addition to increasing the number of employees from the current 30 to 160.