A318 Completions Debut In Tulsa
By Michael Mecham/AviationWeek.com
Airlines may be tightening their belts, but Lufthansa Technik reports no falloff in demand for completing executive jets.
It started working on an Airbus Elite A318 Elite business jet at its BizJet International facility in Tulsa, Okla., and has six more A318 contracts in line. The first aircraft is expected to be returned to Airbus in the autumn with its FAA and EASA sopupplemental type cirtificates in hand.
Lufthansa invested $6 million to upgrade the BizJet facility and add equipment in anticipation of the work, which has been shifted from the company's homebase in Hamburg, Germany.
Despite hardtimes elsewhere, Senior Vice President Walter Heerdt says Lufthansa Technik expects no significant downturn in demand.
"Interest in competions of large private and government aircraft continues to be high," says Heerdt. He says Hamburg only has a few remaining layover slots to offer over the next few years.
It is due to deliver two A330s and two A340s between now and 2011. Preliminary contracts have been signed for a Boeing Business Jet 787 and two 747-8s.
Lufthansa Technik has not had any aircraft completion contracts cancelled, according to Herdt.
Photo credit: Lufthansa Technik
