Lufthansa Technik Malta (LTM) on Wednesday completed its first base maintenance event on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.
The company completed a C-check on LOT Polish Airlines’ 787-9 registered SP-LSC aircraft, having announced last year that it would be expanding its product portfolio to Boeing’s popular long-haul widebody.
Since the announcement, LTM stated that it invested millions of euros in preparation for offering technical support of the Boeing 787, including training of its technical experts and the procurement of the necessary tools and materials.
The C-check comprises extensive checks of the various systems of the aircraft and its structure. In the case of the Boeing 787, this consists to a very large extent of composite materials.
LTM was able to build on its own extensive experience in dealing with these modern materials through its many years of supporting the Airbus A350, for example. However, it also drew on the expertise from other international Lufthansa Technik locations for a wide range of work packages, such as the application of various non-destructive testing (NDT) procedures for composite materials.
The check on the LOT Polish Airlines aircraft was completed on time and it has now flown back to its base in Warsaw.
“After years of servicing only Airbus models here in Malta, it feels special that we now once again actively service a Boeing aircraft type. And with LOT’s unique special livery, what better way could there have been to introduce the Dreamliner in our facility,” LTM CEO Maria Cilia said.
She noted that this is an “important milestone” for LTM and stands as testament to how much the company has grown and “evolved into a wide-body centre of excellence.”
LOT Polish Airlines Vice President Technical Operations Krzysztof Krolak / LinkedIn
“I would like to thank our customers for their great trust in our services. Special thanks go to my team for their dedication, passion and continued commitment to our customers and our company,” Ms Cilia affirmed.
LOT Polish Airlines Vice President Technical Operations Krzysztof Krolak said that the airline is pleased about the maintenance check, also noting that it was a milestone event. He affirmed that the achievement “underscores the robust capabilities and technical expertise within the Lufthansa Technik network.”
Lufthansa Technik Vice President Central Sales Europe and CIS Andreas van de Kuil / LinkedIn
Lufthansa Technik Vice President Central Sales Europe and CIS Andreas van de Kuil noted that this layover did not just mark the first Boeing 787 check for the Malta team, but it is also the first ever base maintenance service provided by the company for LOT Polish Airlines.
“I also thank LOT Polish Airlines for their trust in this cooperation, which we hopefully can deepend even further in the time to come,” he continued.
While this comes as a notable feat for LTM and LOT Polish Airlines, it is also a time when plane maker Boeing is experiencing troubled waters.
This is primarily due to a door plug that blew out of a Boeing 737 Max during an Alaska Airlines flight in January, leaving a gaping hole in the plane. As a result, the US Federal Aviation Authority blocked Boeing from expanding production of its single-aisle 737 Max jets.
Following this, a recent performance report outlined that Boeing lost €332 million in revenue and spent €3.7 million in cash during the first three months of 2024. Additionally, a number of whistleblowers have spoken out against the group, while Boeing CEO David Calhoun has affirmed that it is focusing on sorting out manufacturing issues.
Main Image:The Boeing 787 at LTM's facility / LinkedIn
