Story ID: 2052312Mxreports
Lufthansa Technik Switzerland Restructures
By: David A. Lombardo
Caption: 
Word Count: 205
Lufthansa Technik Switzerland (LTSW) in Basel will undergo extensive restructuring to concentrate exclusively on line maintenance, light base maintenance and logistics services for its customers at Euro Airport. The company plans to reduce its 304-employee workforce to 82.

Rainer Lindau, the MRO’s CEO, told AIN the engine services at Basel serving the Honeywell LF507 (which powers the Avro RJ) “dramatically declined” and will be taken over by Swiss International Air Lines. “This measure is likely to result in the retention of 22 current LTSW employees who would be employed by Swiss.”

He added, “The job cuts associated with the restructuring decision are naturally extremely painful for us. But only a rigorous focus on one core product will create conditions that ensure the continued existence of Lufthansa Technik Switzerland in Basel. The labor-intensive technical maintenance of VIP aircraft and the component services and engine services business will all be discontinued.”

LTSW is not anticipating reintegrating previously offered services. Regional aircraft customers have accounted for a significant portion of the company’s business. “The demand declined dramatically because of the strong Swiss franc; it is unlikely the base maintenance business will pick up in the future,” Lindau said.