Lufthansa building P15-B Clark hangar
This is still subject to necessary approvals. We are a joint venture, so we have to get approvals from both of our shareholders
Daily TribuneThis is still subject to necessary approvals. We are a joint venture, so we have to get approvals from both of our shareholders
Lufthansa Technik Philippines or LTP is investing P15 billion to build a new hangar in Clark City, Pampanga to accommodate large aircraft and serve the rising demand for its expert aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul services.
In a spot interview with reporters last week, LTP president and CEO Elmar Lutter said the company initially planned to break ground for the project next year, construction of which will take two years or by 2026 to complete.
"We are maxed out here in NAIA, so we cannot build anything anymore. New hangars have to be built somewhere else. We are looking at Clark because its airport is ready, and it fits our operations," Lutter told reporters.
"What we want to build in Phase 1 is two large hangar bases, which can accommodate A380s as well. A380s are large aircraft, which is also a problem in NAIA, but in Clark, the space is much better for us and it is much better for the airport," he added.
Twin phases
According to Lutter, the new facility will be built in two phases: Phase 1 will be worth P5 billion, while Phase 2 will be P10 billion.
"This is still subject to necessary approvals. We are a joint venture, so we have to get approvals from both of our shareholders. That's our logical step to move forward and in the long term, we have to build an alternative to NAIA. As you all know, there are new airports that might also shift our priorities toward NAIA," Lutter explained.
LTP is a joint venture between Germany's Lufthansa Technik AG and Lucio Tan-led MacroAsia Corp.
Last year, LTP formally opened its $40-million new hangar in Pasay City. The Hangar 1A will provide base maintenance for various commercial aircraft of short- to long-range capacities, including Airbus jets A320, A330, A380 and Boeing 777.
Apart from adding 20 percent to LTP's capacity, the new hangar created at least 275 jobs for Filipino workers expert in aircraft maintenance, repair and overhauling.
