Lufthansa Technik (LHT) is selling off two of its subsidiaries to Sabena Aerospace. The Belgian MRO will acquire Lufthansa Technik Brussels and Lufthansa Technik Maintenance International (LTMI), LHT’s line maintenance business for customers outside Germany.

The move comes as LHT prepares to close six line maintenance stations in Germany by the end of 2021. It has also closed a base maintenance facility in Shannon, Ireland, as part of its ongoing restructuring efforts.

Both LHT subsidiaries specialize in aircraft maintenance services for short- and long-haul aircraft, including the Airbus A320 family, A330, A340 and various Boeing series aircraft. In addition to taking over the LHT facility in Brussels, Sabena Aerospace will be assuming LTMI’s Frankfurt headquarters and its operations in Amsterdam, Spain, South Africa, Israel and Rwanda.

According to Stephane Burton, CEO of Blueberry Group, which owns Sabena Aerospace, the purchase is in line with its strategy. “With this acquisition, we are further expanding the division of maintenance activities and increasing our international network, adding extra convenience and services to our new and existing customers,” he says.

The sale will impact 215 Lufthansa Technik Brussels and LTMI employees. According to Sabena Aerospace, they will continue to operate autonomously under the new company umbrella.

“With this transaction, we will now have 1,500 employees, of which more than 300 will be dedicated to the line maintenance business, which should enable us to meet the growing demand,” says Burton.

According to Sabena Aerospace, the transaction could also foresee future cooperation with LHT on possible line maintenance services at other locations worldwide.

The acquisition is expected to be completed by the end of Q1 2022 once all legal and operational conditions have been approved.