Pioneering cabin design

Today at the Dubai Air Show, Etihad Airways PJSC and Lufthansa Technik AG have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) regarding a comprehensive partnership on the exploration of digital solutions that is set to further optimize the airline's technical fleet and operations management. The field of cooperation will encompass several products from Lufthansa Technik's industry-leading AVIATAR digital operations suite. Focusing on digital and sustainable tech-ops, it covers the use of Fuel Analytics, Condition Monitoring and automated Line Maintenance Planning in the beginning.

To further boost its fuel efficiency and hence reach its sustainability goals, Etihad will be one of the first airlines to take advantage of AVIATAR's innovative Fuel Analytics app. With the help of artificial intelligence and by the use of full flight data, Fuel Analytics provides Etihad with the transparency needed to identify any unusual fuel consumption. The interconnection between fuel efficiency and technical as well as operational events enables an automated root cause identification of degrading aircraft efficiency, clearly distinguished from operational factors like weather or navigation. In addition, AVIATAR Fuel Analytics can identify the effects of aircraft modifications on fuel consumption. Based on these insights, Etihad can then perform the needed measures to keep their fleet flying efficiently. This helps the airline twofold, by saving fuel and by reducing emissions.

The AVIATAR Condition Monitoring solution will moreover allow Etihad a real-time overview on the current status of all its aircraft and their components – on the ground as well as in flight. This will enable the Etihad maintenance department to proactively manage the condition of their Boeing and Airbus fleets by combining fault messages, parameters, flight information and maintenance information on one screen.

In addition, AVIATAR's automated Line Maintenance Planning app will allow Etihad to improve productivity even further by maximizing aircraft availability and reducing manual planning efforts at the same time. By integrating data from different IT systems, this algorithm-based solution adapts plans for each maintenance location and across Etihad's fleet instantaneously. Any change in the flight schedule or maintenance requirements results in an updated maintenance plan that supports decision-making and makes potential planning conflicts transparent, thus allowing the airline to focus on issues where more specific know-how is required. The updated plan is then directly transferred to Etihad`s maintenance information system.

"For Etihad, better data and better insights into data means that better decisions can be made every single day", said Mohammad Al Bulooki, Chief Operating Officer of Etihad Aviation Group. "Therefore, Etihad is constantly looking for partners who can provide ever-insightful perspectives using operational data. In working with Lufthansa Technik, Etihad will improve the efficiency of its operation, reduce fuel burn, reduce CO2 emissions, and reduce maintenance effort – all while maintaining the highest levels of safety performance and onboard product that Etihad is known for."

"Digitalization has become one of the strongest drivers for the aviation industry, and MRO is no exception to that. Thus, it is paramount for us to highlight the benefits that a smart digital tool suite such as AVIATAR can leverage for airlines around the globe," explained Tim Butzmann, Lufthansa Technik's Senior Director Sales Middle East and Africa. "The more delighted we are now to have convinced a renowned carrier like Etihad to be one of the first airlines in the Middle East joining us on the digital MRO playing field."

About Etihad Airways:
Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, was formed in 2003 and quickly went on to become one of the world's leading airlines. Etihad flies to destinations across the world from its hub in Abu Dhabi with a young and environmentally friendly fleet of Airbus and Boeing aircraft. In recent years, the organisation has received numerous awards for its superior service and products, cargo offering, loyalty programme, aviation training and Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) service.

Royal Jordanian, the national airline of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, and Lufthansa Technik AG have signed an agreement regarding comprehensive component maintenance for the airline´s entire Airbus A320 family fleet. Over a period of five years, Lufthansa Technik will provide its Total Component Support (TCS) including spares support, parts pooling and homebase support services for a total of five A319s, six A320s and two A321s.

In line with TCS, Lufthansa Technik's experts will take care of all aspects of supplying Royal Jordanian's fleet with components, from initial provisioning studies and home base allocation at Amman's Queen Alia International Airport to repair and overhaul, troubleshooting, documentation and engineering services. This comprehensive spectrum of services will ensure Royal Jordanian highest aircraft availability while avoiding a big capital investment for their own dedicated spare-parts inventory. As a customized service package, TCS is exactly tailored to the airline's specific requirements.

Royal Jordanian Vice Chairman and CEO Samer Majali said: "Lufthansa Technik and Royal Jordanian have been partners over the past few years, and we are pleased to build on this partnership for the coming five years. We trust that their efficient and timely component support will serve our keenness to maintain our fleet at its best performance."

„Royal Jordanian is one of our longterm partners in the Middle East, the prouder I am to extend this outstanding cooperation well into the future," said Kai-Stefan Röpke, Vice President Corporate Sales Europe, Middle East and Africa at Lufthansa Technik. "We are committed to ensuring our valued customer best-in-class aircraft availability and will moreover combine it with the outstanding service levels our component services are known for."

The new TCS contract builds on a previous agreement in which Lufthansa Technik provided component MRO for Royal Jordanian since 2017. In 2019, the two partners also extended their collaboration to components of the CFM56 turbofan engine. Royal Jordanian's A320 family fleet also relies on Lufthansa Technik for overhauls of its landing gears.

 

About Royal Jordanian:
Being a leading carrier in the region, the vision of Royal Jordanian (RJ) is to be the Airline of Choice connecting Jordan and the Levant with the world. Back in 1963, RJ was established as the national air carrier of Jordan. From its hub at Queen Alia International Airport, RJ runs its fleet to reach worldwide destinations providing an extensive travel network for its guests via Amman to Europe, the US and Canada, and North Africa. Through its 13 international airline partners in the oneworld alliance, RJ offers a network of over 1,000 airports in 170 countries.

Kuwait Airways has recently signed a contract with Lufthansa Technik AG regarding comprehensive base maintenance layovers for Airbus A330ceo aircraft. The agreement covers a total of four six-years checks for Airbus A330-200s, the first two of which have already been successfully completed at Lufthansa Technik Philippines (LTP) in Manila.

The first and second of Kuwait Airways' aircraft arrived at LTP in October and could already be handed back to the customer on-time and on-budget. With the third A330 being serviced in Manila right now, the fourth aircraft will follow directly behind and is set to complete the layover sequence at the beginning of December. Six-years checks – the first in the life of Kuwait Airways' comparably young A330 fleet – usually comprise comprehensive structural and mechanical inspections.

"We at Kuwait Airways take pride in our adherence to all aspects of safety for our aircraft, on the ground and on board. Safety remains fundamental in all our operations and services and we are committed to constantly maintaining and improving the standards of safety at all levels," stated Captain Eisa Al-Haddad, Kuwait Airways Chief Operations Officer. "Kuwait Airways' dedicated and skilled staff ensure that safety is maintained in all operations and services, and this commitment has enabled the company to receive several awards, certifications, and recognition. The comprehensive maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) works carried out at LTP in Manila further ensure the safety and airworthiness of Kuwait Airways' aircraft for all its operations and services. For the first heavy checks of our A330s we were seeking a partner that not only has an outstanding reputation, but also the flexibility to overhaul our aircraft in an almost nose-to-tail sequence. Lufthansa Technik and its subsidiary in the Philippines are moreover reknown for their engineering expertise and highly-competitive turnaround times, that convinced us even more that we have put our valuable assets in the right hands."

"We are honoured to welcome back Kuwait Airways in our customer base and grateful for the trust they demonstrate by assigning comprehensive services for their A330s to us," stated Tim Butzmann, Senior Director Sales Middle East and Africa at Lufthansa Technik. "Our experts in Manila will overhaul Kuwait Airways' A330s with the same thoroughness and precision they invest in every aircraft to maintain the full value of this relatively young fleet. In doing so, we are proud to justify the customer's trust with outstanding reliability and service."

Over the last decades, Lufthansa Technik has already had various business relationships with Kuwait Airways, with services for both commercial and VIP aircraft. For LTP, however, the recent contract marks the first opportunity to welcome Kuwait Airways aircraft on its premises. In Lufthansa Technik's global network, LTP is the competence center for widebody base maintenance in East Asia, offering overhauls for almost any Airbus aircraft up to the A380 and also for selected Boeing types.

 

About Kuwait Airways:
Kuwait Airways (KAC) established in March 1954 is the National Carrier of the State of Kuwait, and one of the longest serving official airlines operating from the Arabian Gulf region. It was initially established as a private company named then as the Kuwait National Airways Company Ltd. Kuwait Airways joined the International Air Transport Association (IATA) in 1963 and in 1965 became a founding member of the Arab Air Carriers' Organization (AACO). The Carrier operates its regular services to 47 international destinations, covering the Far East, Middle East, Indian Subcontinent, Western Europe, and North America. Kuwait Airways' current Board of Directors is headed by Captain Ali Mohammad Al-Dukhan as Chairman and Mr. Maen Razouqi as Chief Executive Officer.

At the upcoming Dubai Airshow, Lufthansa Technik AG will present further details of its new wide-body VIP cabin concept EXPLORER. After a sneak preview at the Monaco Yacht Show in September, numerous further details will now be on display at the aerospace trade fair in the United Arab Emirates. These include features that, thanks to the latest technology, can already be realized in an appealing and high-quality manner.

The EXPLORER design concept is based on the current trend for superyachts that fulfill two wishes for their owners: To take them almost anywhere at any time and to serve them at their destination as an individual hotel and base camp for a wide variety of leisure activities and excursions. Lufthansa Technik's specialists have chosen the Airbus A330 as the platform for realizing these customer wishes in private aviation. As a classic wide-body aircraft, it offers sufficient space for a large number of novel cabin ideas and also a sufficient range to fulfill the special wishes of the EXPLORER target group.

"In yacht building, multifunctional exploration vessels have now become a class in their own right. And many owners of such vessels also call an aircraft their own," explained Wieland Timm, Head of Sales VIP & Special Mission Aircraft Services at Lufthansa Technik. "For this fast-growing target group of VIP world explorers, we have therefore now created a flying platform for the first time. Unlike a yacht, however, our EXPLORER aircraft allows passengers to travel to the other side of the globe within hours and set up their own individual base camp for further activities. This opens up completely new possibilities for explorers."

Close cooperation with Diehl enables large-scale projections of virtual content

A particularly striking feature of the EXPLORER concept is the large-scale integrated projection system for virtual content, which extends from the window belt to almost the entire cabin ceiling in the multifunctional lounge area. Although similar features have often been seen in design studies, there has been no suitable technology to implement them in a way that is both aesthetically convincing and certifiable, until now. In close cooperation with Diehl Aerospace – a joint venture between Diehl Aviation and Thales – the experts at Lufthansa Technik have now succeeded in building the decisive bridge to the large-scale realization of such virtual cabin elements.

To this end, Lufthansa Technik's design team integrated Diehl's projection technology and tailored it specifically to the use in a VIP cabin. By cleverly positioning the small, lightweight and passively cooled projectors into the sidewall and ceiling elements, large-scale virtual impressions are created, the content of which customers can configure individually according to their wishes with the help of a corresponding software solution from Diehl.

"By integrating the unique projection system of Diehl, we have created an interior that exploits the technology`s full potential for a VIP cabin," said Michael Bork, Aircraft Interior Architect in VIP & Special Mission Aircraft Services at Lufthansa Technik.  "It is optimized under technical and aesthetic aspects to provide an adequate framework for bringing a variety of atmospheres and virtual worlds to life, changing the overall look of the cabin by a fingertip."

The first short teaser shown in Monaco already featured a breathtaking and animated underwater world in this way. The ideas of Lufthansa Technik's design team for this cabin feature go far beyond that, however: from virtual day and night skies to architectural forms and even a flying discotheque, the most diverse or even constantly changing configurations are possible. The design team has also thought of an aesthetically pleasing idle state with inactive projectors.

"When designing an Airbus A330 as a versatile EXPLORER tool - whether for private owners or also for charter agencies for this type of travel - we paid particular attention to feasibility. Therefore, our experts have already developed detailed implementation proposals for many technical features and innovations," said Jan Grube, Sales Director in VIP & Special Mission Aircraft Services. "A great example is the cooperation with Diehl on large-scale projections. Here we were able to fulfill a long-held wish, so we are very grateful for this outstanding cooperation."

Retractable veranda enables EXPLORER audience to make completely new discoveries

Another feature that allows EXPLORER passengers to make completely new discoveries is the floor in the forward fuselage area, which extends outward from the parked aircraft to form a spacious veranda. The main deck cargo hatch on the Airbus A330 freighter, which is now also available as a retrofit solution for passenger versions, opens up the EXPLORER interior to its surroundings, into which passengers can then immerse themselves directly via a platform that can be extended by several meters.

Here, too, the EXPLORER concept is based on the yacht category that already bears this name. These ships have precisely these retractable elements to give their passengers even more direct contact with the environment. At a height of around four meters above the apron, passengers of the EXPLORER aircraft are thus offered a unique view of the surroundings and at the airport that acts as a base camp for further discoveries and excursions, for example using the vehicles carried on board.

Future BRABUS Mobility Lounge will showcase automotive treasures and exploration vehicles

To ensure that the VIPs' vehicle fleet can be attractively presented to guests and fellow passengers, the Lufthansa Technik team envisions a special Mobility Lounge in the aft section of the lower deck, which can already be viewed from the main deck through a glass floor. This special area will be created in cooperation with BRABUS, one of the leading manufacturers of high-performance and luxury automobiles, and will be jointly presented at one of the upcoming trade shows. Via a convenient staircase, the Luxury Mobility Lounge will be easily accessible to passengers from the main deck, even during the flight. It will also cater to the technical needs of the automotive treasures carried on board.

Apart from the technical features, Lufthansa Technik's engineering and design teams have paid the greatest possible attention to multifunctional solutions and the widest possible range of use cases. Thus, in addition to classic room elements such as bedrooms and guest rooms, bathrooms, offices, dining and conference areas, there are also some new design ideas. Another such highlight is the multifunctional room in the rear of the aircraft. It meets the needs of all those world explorers who do not want to do without their usual fitness and wellness facilities on long-haul flights. For emergencies, this space can also be converted into a flying hospital room.

The design configuration currently showcased is designed for up to twelve VIP passengers and places explicit emphasis on bringing the special explorer character to life for this particular VIP target group. Alternatively, however, further modular variants with up to 47 passengers are also possible on the basis of this concept. These can include, for example, a much more individual owner's module with a master bedroom and bathroom as well as an office, but also larger areas for the crew or additional entourage.

Because of its many possible uses, Lufthansa Technik will utilize the EXPLORER concept as an ideas laboratory to further develop and present other ideas and technologies that currently exist only on the drawing board. An animated film and extensive illustrative material on the current stage of development will be shown by Lufthansa Technik at its booth #1250 at this year's Dubai Airshow. Diehl´s experts will also be available at the company's booth #849 to answer all questions regarding the projection technology for the virtual ceiling content.

About Diehl Aviation:
Diehl Aviation is a division of Diehl Stiftung & Co. KG and combines all aviation activities of the Diehl Group under one roof. In the aviation industry, Diehl Aviation, including Diehl Aerospace (a joint venture with Thales), is a leading systems supplier for aircraft system and cabin solutions. Diehl Aviation currently employs more than 4,000 people. Its clients include leading aircraft manufacturers Airbus (both airplanes and helicopters), Boeing, Bombardier, Embraer, manufacturers of vertical take-off aircraft/eVTOLs as well as airlines and operators of commercial and business aircraft worldwide.

About BRABUS:
High-end supercars, custom automotive refinement, exclusive lifestyle and 6-star Mercedes-Benz classics are the domain of BRABUS. Each BRABUS is the result of a perfect interplay: consummate technology, sophisticated art of engineering and custom craftsmanship make every BRABUS unique in its class.

The Spanish low-cost airline Vueling Airlines S.A. and Lufthansa Technik AG have signed a five year contract about the supply of Consumable & Expendable parts for Vueling's A320 CEO/NEO fleet. The contract includes planning, forecasting, transportation and logistic services.

The contract also comprises a consignment stock at Vueling's base at Barcelona International Airport. A dedicated account team and on-site customer support manager will be available for direct exchange with the customer to ensure smooth supply processes. The Lufthansa Technik experts will also give an extensive phase-in support to guarantee an optimal technical support right from the beginning.

Michael Hembera, Head of Account & Supply Chain Management from Lufthansa Technik said: „For this contract we have adapted our comprehensive C&E c.all Product to Vueling's needs, providing a highly integrated product which we haven't had realized for an external customer, so far. A common IT interface between the Lufthansa Technik systems and Vuelings AMOS digital maintenance mangement platform allows the two companies to interact directly and quickly, especially in the fields of material planning and forecasting. This will definitely increase the level of technical readiness of the supported aircraft."

Spairliners and Fokker Services finalized this long-term agreement during MRO Europe 2021 in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. The Fokker Services team will perform maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services for a variety of line replaceable units (LRUs) related to power generation, bleed air valves, starters and avionics for the Embraer E-Jet Family.

Menzo van der Beek, CEO of Fokker Services, said: "Fokker Services and Spairliners have a shared mission: to provide highly reliable aftermarket services for customers worldwide. We are delighted to be chosen by Spairliners to support their global component support solutions. With decades of repairs expertise, the team at Spairliners can count on our support for this range of critical components. At Fokker Services, we are continuously expanding our MRO capabilities, especially for Embraer aircraft and we look forward to offering our strong repair solutions to Spairliners in the years to come."

Benoît Rollier, Managing Director and CFO of Spairliners, added: "We are especially happy to further strengthen our supplier network with a partner that has established expertise and repair facilities both in Europe and in the United States. Our collaboration with Fokker Services will help us to further increase the efficiency of our operations through better turn-around times and higher availability. Combined with our unique expertise in supply chain, engineering, and smart inventory management this will enable us to provide the best services to our customers, in particular as we are looking forward to expand in the Americas."

All units will be repaired in-house at Fokker Services' facilities in the Netherlands and the United States. Both shops feature state-of-the-art technology, such as the eddy current dynamometer test stand, electric test stand, generator test stands, and more, to ensure complete reliability. By utilizing the extensive experience in repairing these units at both shops, Fokker Services can offer cost-effective solutions on both continents.

Lufthansa Technik and Czech airline Smartwings have signed a five years comprehensive Total Component Support (TCS®) contract covering repair and overhaul of components for the airline's fleet of seven Boeing 737 MAX  8 aircraft. Support for the new aircraft has already started. 

Luděk Stašek, Technical Director of Smartwings, said: "We are very pleased that Lufthansa Technik supports us in component support for our new 737 MAX fleet. We have worked together with Lufthansa Technik already in the past and are looking forward to further deepening this successful cooperation." 

"We are happy to continue our partnership with Smartwings by supporting its latest generation of aircraft. Lufthansa Technik is currently actively growing its customer base of 737 MAX-operators in order to provide even more synergies to our customers," commented Ifezue Bertold Mordi, Senior Sales Executive of Lufthansa Technik. 

With the Total Component Support TCS® agreement, Smartwings benefits from an individual supply concept that enables short and rapid transport paths. The new contract includes component MRO services and pool access as well as component delivery to selected international airports within Europe. 

Lufthansa Technik already provides comprehensive engine services for Smartwings' CFM56-7B powered Boeing 737NG-fleet. 
 

Georgios Ouzounidis, currently responsible for Corporate Sales Western Europe at Lufthansa Technik AG, has been appointed Vice President Corporate Sales for the Americas, effective 1 January 2022. He will succeed Frank Berweger, who will be leaving the company to take on a new challenge outside the Lufthansa Group. 

Georgios Ouzounidis began his career in the sales support department of Lufthansa Technik in 1999 and has held several positions within the company since then. Corporate Sales for Western Europe has been under his leadership since 2015.  

"I am happy, that with Georgios we found a highly professional, customer centric and experienced manager who will be able to seamlessly continue to drive the current growth path of our company in this strategic region," said Dr. Johannes Bussmann, Chairman of the Executive Board of Lufthansa Technik.  

He continued: "I would like to thank Frank Berweger for the excellent job he has done over the past seven years in the Americas. Under his leadership, our regional sales team was successful in positioning Lufthansa Technik as MRO partner of choice for many American customers, thereby more than doubling our market share in a highly competitive environment."  

Georgios Ouzounidis will move with his family from Hamburg / Germany  to Miami / USA and completes Lufthansa Technik's corporate sales senior leadership team, consisting of Kai-Stefan Roepke, who is responsible for EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) and Thomas Boettger, who is heading the sales activities for the Asia Pacific region. 

Lufthansa Technik AG has renewed a substantial base maintenance contract with easyJet for more than 140 aircraft of the airline's A320 family, which was initially signed back in 2016. This sucessful cooperation was now extended by another five years. The base maintenance services will be performed at Lufthansa Technik's facilities in Sofia / Bulgaria and additionally in Malta and Budapest / Hungary as required. 

Brendan McConnellogue, easyJet Director of Engineering, noted: "We have used Lufthansa Technik Maintenance across a number of their sites over the years and have always found them to be a reliable partner in support of our A320 family maintenance.  The renewal of this contract ensures this working relationship continues and maintains easyJet's high standards of technical reliability." 

Marcus Motschenbacher, Vice President & CCO Aircraft Maintenance Services of Lufthansa Technik, commented: "We are honored to extend our partnership with easyJet as one of Europe's leading airlines. The renewal of this contract proves that maintaining high quality of service standards over the term is of strategic importance." 

Kai-Stefan Röpke, Vice President Corporate Sales EUMEA of Lufthansa Technik, added: "This is another significant pillar of our continued robust relationship with easyJet. Even in current difficult times we have been able to jointly manage challenges the Covid crisis has imposed on us and find viable solutions to continue our services for easyJet". 

The extended overhaul services in Sofia under the new agreement have already started in October 2021. 

Lufthansa Technik and Japan Airlines have further deepened their trusted partnership by extending a long term agreement on Total Component Support (TCS) services for Japan Airlines' Boeing 787 fleet.

The five-year TCS contract covers a multiple of components installed on Japan Airlines' Boeing 787 fleet of 53 aircraft. The services to be rendered include maintenance, reliability monitoring, reliability enhancement programs as well as logistic services.

Kojiro Yamashita, Senior Vice President of Procurement at Japan Airlines, said, "We have signed a contract with Lufthansa Technik as a partner that shares and respects the value that JAL provides to customers, safe and stable operation. At the same time, JAL respects for Lufthansa Technik's commitment to further advanced and high quality maintenance. JAL is convinced that this contract will keep our strong partnership in future."

Thomas Boettger, Senior Vice President Corporate Sales Asia Pacific at Lufthansa Technik, added: "We are very proud and honored to extend our services with comprehensive MRO solutions for Japan Airlines' Boeing 787 fleet based on the past ten-years' accomplishments. We will work very closely together as partners to ensure the highest safety and reliability ongoingly. And I believe we will overcome and recover from the difficult times now we are facing and further deepen our  collaborative relationship in future."

With the renewed agreement, Japan Airlines and Lufthansa Technik maintain their successful relationship which already includes a variety of MRO services.  Amongst others, Lufthansa Technik has been providing TCS services for Japan Airlines' Boeing 787 fleet since 2011 and Airbus A350 fleet since 2018.