en.Wedoany.com Reported - Lufthansa Technik Philippines has announced the construction of a second widebody aircraft maintenance facility at Clark International Airport, scheduled to begin operations in the first half of 2028. Located in northern Philippines, the airport is approximately 80 kilometers (about a 1.5-hour drive) from its existing Manila facility at Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Holger Beck, CEO of Lufthansa Technik Philippines, stated that the company evaluated multiple regions in Southeast Asia during the site selection process, and Clark ultimately stood out. Having operated in the Philippines for 25 years, the company is familiar with the local business environment. The advantage of the two facilities being relatively close is that the established Manila base can provide support for the new facility.

Beck noted that operating two medium-sized facilities instead of one very large facility helps disperse risks during natural disasters such as typhoons. Additionally, the Philippines' geopolitical neutrality constitutes another attraction.

The MRO service provider will offer maintenance services to customers in Asia, Australia, Europe, and the Middle East. The Clark facility will add Boeing 787 heavy check capabilities to address the demand as this aircraft type approaches "very heavy check" cycles. The company is also increasing investment in Airbus A350 maintenance capabilities and will offer comprehensive heavy maintenance services for Boeing 777, 787, A330, A340, A350, and A380 aircraft in the future. Lufthansa Technik Philippines also maintains A320 narrowbody aircraft, but widebody aircraft remain its primary business.

The new Clark site covers 157,000 square meters (approximately 1,689,930 square feet) and can accommodate up to nine widebody aircraft, complementing the capacity of the 226,000-square-meter Manila facility. The existing Manila facility can accommodate six widebody and three narrowbody aircraft.

Clark, formerly a U.S. military base, currently serves several Asian and Middle Eastern airlines and has developed into a major logistics hub. UPS operates here and plans to open a new hub at the airport later this year. Southeast Asian Airlines, an all-cargo carrier based at Clark, along with several other Asian airlines, provides regional cargo services. FedEx has been operating here since 1984. Additionally, Clark Airport is about a one-hour drive from Subic Bay seaport, one of the largest ports in the Philippines.

Regarding human resources, Beck emphasized that Filipino employees typically speak English and are highly dedicated. The population of approximately 20 million in Manila and its surrounding areas provides a vast pool of potential employees. The region also has universities offering aviation courses and aviation maintenance technical schools.

Lufthansa Technik Philippines is a joint venture with MacroAsia Corp. Beck stated that the company has trained over 10,000 Filipinos since entering the Philippines. The company enrolls approximately 400 students annually in its 18-month maintenance training program, after which students gain two to three years of experience on the production floor. Two years ago, the company began recruiting new students from the Clark area, has trained approximately 500 people so far, and is currently developing their capabilities. By the time the new facility opens in 2028, it is expected to have a complete workforce sourced locally.

Beck stated that the two facilities will operate in parallel, each with its own staff, though some expert exchanges will occur, at least in the initial phase.

Lufthansa Technik's investment in the Clark facility is at least $100 million. In addition to the hangar, the new site will include a paint shop and workshops for non-destructive testing, tool calibration, structures, components, composites, machining, panels, interiors, and "large workshops for seats, galleys, and lavatories." Beck stated that the goal is to complete repairs or overhauls internally for all touched components during base maintenance activities, reducing downtime and simplifying logistics.