Construction of the Lufthansa Technik factory in Feira to begin this summer

Lufthansa Technik, the German group’s aircraft maintenance company, expects to receive the environmental ‘green light’ “soon” to proceed with construction of the facility in Santa Maria da Feira this summer, an investment of €309 million that will create 526 jobs by 2030. Another project that may come to Portugal is a flight school. There has already been contact with the Portuguese Air Force, but this has not been followed up.

The public consultation on the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) ended on 5 February and the document is now under review. Lufthansa Technik is hoping for a favourable decision. “We are optimistic that approval of the environmental assessment will be granted shortly”, an official source from the German group told ECO/eRadar. “We are nearing the end of the administrative procedure”, the same source stated, adding that they hope to “start construction in the summer”.

The Lufthansa Technik facility, which has been granted Project of National Interest (PIN) status, represents an investment of €309 million and is expected to begin operations in 2028. According to the Environmental Impact Assessment, the project will employ 526 staff by 2030, including 55 highly qualified professionals. A training centre has already been in operation since last year.

The new aircraft component and engine maintenance and repair facility will be built on a plot of land covering nearly 230,000 square metres in the Lusopark area of Santa Maria da Feira. With four storeys and a built area of 48,753 square metres, it will have the capacity to process 30 tonnes of parts per day.

The components to be repaired will arrive from all over the world, mainly by air via Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport, and will then be transported by heavy goods vehicles to the industrial site, according to the EIA. Lufthansa Technik provides services to more than 800 customers worldwide, including original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), aircraft leasing companies, private jet operators, armed forces and airlines. It recorded revenues of €8.049 billion in 2025, 12% more than the previous year, and is seen as an area with high growth potential.

The project in Santa Maria da Feira was highlighted by Lufthansa Group CEO Carsten Spohr during the press conference to present the annual results on 6 March. “Portugal, as such, could become a very important strategic partner in the aviation sector, not least because we are currently building a Lufthansa Technik facility in Portugal.”

Pilot training school may be on its way to Portugal

The German group’s presence could grow further with the establishment of another project. Carsten Spohr revealed during the results presentation that Lufthansa is “assessing whether the pilot training school, which we are discussing jointly with the Air Force, could be located in Portugal”.

ECO/eRadar asked Lufthansa about the location being considered and when a decision was expected, but a source from the group stated that they could not provide further information at this time.

The Portuguese Air Force replied that, “at present, there are no communications between the Air Force and Lufthansa regarding the aforementioned project”. “There was only one exploratory contact from the CEO of Lufthansa Technik, which was not followed up”, added the spokesperson.

The European Flight Academy, the Lufthansa Group’s aviation school, has facilities in Rostock and Bremen, Germany. Outside the country, it has training centres in Grenchen and Zurich, Switzerland, and in Goodyear, USA.

The establishment of projects in Portugal is one of the key arguments put forward by the German group in its bid for the privatisation of 49.9% of TAP (5% is reserved for employees).

During the results presentation, the CEO confirmed the intention to submit a non-binding bid for the acquisition of a minority stake in the Portuguese airline, which must be submitted by 2 April. “We want to continue with this process because TAP would be a perfect fit for us”, said Carsten Spohr. “It would be an important addition to the Brazilian market and to our presence in Latin America”, he added.