Lufthansa Technik is joining ALTA as an affiliate member this month, with a focus on expanding its business in Latin America.

"You have access to a lot of key people in the industry in Latin America," says Walter Mueller, the German MRO provider's regional manager for Latin America and the Caribbean. “ALTA helps you get in the door.”

Lufthansa Technik already counts carriers including Aerolineas Argentinas, Aeromexico, Copa Airlines, and both LAN and TAM Airlines among its customers, he says.

It is interested in landing Avianca and VivaAerobus as new customers, while also expanding its existing business with LAN to cover the Chilean carrier’s Boeing 787s, says Mueller.

Lufthansa Technik is looking at locations for an MRO facility in the Americas to support its expanding business. While Mueller declines to comment on where the company is looking, he says that the facility would support customers throughout the region, including North America.

Without a regional facility of its own, the MRO focuses on providing component, engine, inventory, nacelle, and landing-gear services rather than heavy checks in Latin America, he says.

Lufthansa Technik has worked closely with ALTA for at least a decade.

Source: Cirium Dashboard