Lufthansa Technik AG and MTU Aero Engines AG laid the cornerstone for their new joint venture EME Aero in Jasionka, close to Rzeszów city, on September 28, symbolically launching one of the biggest and most advanced GTF MRO service centers worldwide.
Pratt & Whitney GTF engines power five regional and narrowbody aircraft platforms, with the A220 and the A320neo family from Airbus and the Embraer E190-E2 already in commercial service. The total investment for the service center is €150 million by 2020. Plans are to have the facility – with its 40,000 m² of workspace – up and running by the end of 2019.
“This joint venture is an important step for Lufthansa Technik and our partner MTU in expanding our respective engine maintenance businesses,” states Dr. Johannes Bußmann, CEO of Lufthansa Technik. “That is why this laying of the foundation stone marks an important day, as EME Aero will enable both companies to provide technical support for one of the world's most important aircraft engines. We are convinced that we have found the right location for this joint venture in Poland – our experience with our location in Wroclaw is very encouraging.”
Michael Schreyögg, Chief Program Officer at MTU Aero Engines explains: “Above all, one factor is driving growth in our industry: more passengers are in the air. Year on year, we see flight hour growth rates of more than 6 percent. The Geared Turbofan engine family will serve this growth. It is one of the most advanced propulsion systems in the market and plays an important role in MTU's commercial aircraft business – from an OEM as well as from a maintenance perspective. MTU Aero Engines is looking forward to run on of the world's most efficient maintenance shops for GTF engines and master the upcoming high volume together with Lufthansa Technik. Alongside our subsidiary MTU Aero Engines Polska in the immediate vicinity, this step is part of MTU's global ramp-up plan.”
Work on the construction site began in mid-June this year. The area has already been levelled and over 60,000 m³ of soil have been moved. The building platform is almost complete and foundation works have begun. The construction site for EME Aero service center consists of about 160,000 m²; this corresponds to approximately 23 football fields. The construction of the facility, including one of the most advanced test cells worldwide, will be completed by the end of 2019.
