Story ID: 366
Lufthansa Technik Shows MRO and VIP Capabilities
By: James Wynbrandt
Caption: Lufthansa Technik is highlighting its MRO facility in Dubai South and displaying a VIP cabin concept for the Airbus A220.
Word Count: 359
Germany’s Lufthansa Technik (LHT, Stand 1150) is showcasing at the Dubai Airshow both its commercial MRO and VIP cabin completions capabilities. “The Middle East continues to be a growth market,” said Richard Haas, LHT’s senior director of corporate sales Middle East and Africa, summing up regional MRO demand. 

LHT counts some 30 wholly or partly owned subsidiaries in its global service network, including Lufthansa Technik Middle East (LHTME), a wholly-owned facility with hangar and workshop space at the Mohammed bin Rashid Aerospace Hub at Dubai South. By retaining complete ownership of the facility, “We can transfer the way we do business, one to one,” Haas said, adding, “We believe you need to be close to the customer.”

LHTME, which can support VIP as well as commercial operators, also operates a warehouse at Al Maktoum International Airport with additional parts storage for local spares support. The company is conducting tours of LHTME and providing shuttle bus service to and from the site during the Dubai Airshow.

On the custom completions side, LHT is showcasing a VIP airliner sporting one of its interiors on static display and presenting cabin concepts for both narrow- and wide-body VIP platforms at its stand. Wieland Timm, senior head of sales, VIP and special mission aircraft, said the bespoke cabin division is “pretty optimistic about the Dubai Airshow,” given the region’s appetite for VIP aircraft.

Headlining the interiors concepts is SkyRetreat, a yacht-like cabin design conceived for an executive version of the Airbus A220. Unveiled at the Monaco Yacht Show in September, SkyRetreat features deck-like flooring and furnishings to match, highlighted by a forward observation area that includes the cockpit and a divan, accessible in all phases of flight, where passengers can observe the flight deck and don headsets to monitor radio communications.

“The younger generation in the Middle East is interested” in the concept, said Timm. “They are coming to Dubai, and we expect [reaction to] our layout will be very positive.”
, full_html