Lufthansa regional subsidiary CityLine is to close its base maintenance facility in Cologne by 2020.
Munich-based CityLine tells FlightGlobal it has decided to gradually wind down operations at the facility, which is focused on heavy checks for the carrier's Bombardier CRJ900 and Embraer E-Jet fleet.
It says management has, together with staff and union representatives, attempted to implement efficiency measures over the course of several years. But, it adds, other maintenance providers are still able to offer services at "significantly more competitive terms".
The facility is used mainly to support CityLine's fleet, with third-party customers accounting for only a minor proportion of volume.
Some 130 people are employed at the site. CityLine does not rule out compulsory redundancies, but says it will seek "socially acceptable" solutions, including staff reduction through natural attrition and offers of job opportunities elsewhere at CityLine or Lufthansa Group.
CityLine's maintenance operations in Frankfurt and Munich will not be affected by the Cologne site's closure, says the airline.
Where the CRJ900s and Embraer E-Jets will be serviced in future has not yet been decided.
Source: Cirium Dashboard
