Gallery: A behind-the-scenes look inside Lufthansa Technik Malta

An Airbus A350-900 undergoes base maintenance at Lufthansa Technik Malta (LTM). From 2024 onward, the Boeing 787 will also be serviced at LTM. The company is investing around €5 million ($5.25 million) to add the 787 to its portfolio as more of the type enters the global fleet.
 

Logos of airline customers greet visitors when entering Lufthansa Technik Malta. “We have serviced 47 airline customers from Europe, the Middle East, Africa and North America here in Malta,” LTM CEO Maria Cilia said.
 

Everything, including the seats, must be maintained. Here, all seats have been removed from an aircraft.
 

Pictured, paint shop technicians Franklin (left) and Elton. LTM’s spectrum of services has grown over the years to encompass extensive base maintenance services. Besides the facility in Malta, Lufthansa Technik also has overseas MRO bases in Manila (Philippines), Aguadilla (Puerto Rico), Sofia (Bulgaria) and Budapest (Hungary).
 

Another view showing the variety of seats of one aircraft.

Seats for pilots undergo maintenance work in a dedicated area.

Andor (left), from Lufthansa Technik Budapest, and Roderich repair an Airbus A319 flap. At LTM, 85% of employees are Maltese and 15% are non-Maltese, from a total of 18 different nationalities.
 

LTM has around 500 employees, of which 11% are female. Pictured, Luana also repairs the flaps of Airbus aircraft, among her other duties.
 

A Lufthansa A319 undergoes a so-called IL check, a 48-month in-depth inspection of structure components, fuselage and wings. LTM has six MRO lines (bays), with three dedicated for widebodies. Turnaround times in maintenance depend on many factors, including the age of the aircraft, previous maintenance and the operator. LTM CEO Cilia said turnaround times have been impacted due to supply chain issues, labor shortages and/or delayed response time from OEMs.
 

The Rolls-Royce Trent engine powers an Airbus A350-900. LTM has customers that have requested A350 IL-check slots, potentially starting in the 2024 fourth quarter, with more demand expected in 2025.
 

Another Lufthansa A319 at LTM undergoes an IL-check, in-depth inspection of all components of the structure, fuselage and wings. Technicians check and, if necessary, repair the devices (electronics, hydraulics). An IL check usually takes place every 48 months.
 

There are three hangars at LTM. Pictured are the A319 and A350. For the coming winter campaign, Lufthansa Group will make up around 50% of LTM’s business. The remaining widebody line and two narrowbody lines will handle other customers.

An Airbus A330-300 from a third-party customer undergoes heavy maintenance. LTM has around a 13.6% market share in the European MRO market for widebodies, excluding the Boeing 787 for now.
 

Since the Lufthansa Airbus A340-600 will be phased out soon, LTM will also become a Boeing 787 MRO provider by next year.
 

An Airbus A319 tail inside a maintenance hangar.
 

The Lufthansa A340-600, which will be phased out soon.  

The aviation scene in Malta has developed significantly and continues to grow.  Substantial investments in aviation infrastructure have been made attracting not only MRO companies but Malta also became a popular choice for airlines to register their aircraft.
 

Newly appointed Lufthansa Technik Malta CEO Maria Cilia, right, in conversation with ATW in her office. Maria began her career at LTM as a mechanical engineer 17 years ago. Her first job during her engineering studies was on the production shop floor for three months.