Santa Maria da Feira, Portugal, June 29, 2026 (Lusa) - The chief executive of the Lufthansa Group said on Monday that the brand’s factory in Santa Maria da Feira, for which the foundation stone was laid today, already has 300 people in training and is expected to commence operations in 2028.
Carsten Spohr made the announcement at a press conference prior to a visit with the prime minister to the site, covering some 230,000 square metres, where the 55,000-square-metre factory will be dedicated to the repair and maintenance of aircraft components.
“We have recruited 300 people so far,” said the group’s chief executive, noting that these professionals are receiving specialist training in Feira, in premises set aside for this purpose at the Materials Recovery Business Park, and that the total number of recruits is expected to reach 700 by 2030.
As for the start of operations, Carsten Spohr believes that the construction of the Lufthansa Technik facility will be completed swiftly and added: “The first product to come out of these premises, handled by staff we have trained, will leave the facility in 2028.”
The investment is in the region of €300 million, but the German businessman emphasised that, more important than the financial aspect, is the “value” of the overall project.
“It is a commitment to Portugal as a strategic partner,” says Carsten Spohr. “We are Europe’s number one aviation group, we are among the world’s best, and we are now looking to Portugal for its potential as a major partner,” he adds.
The Lufthansa director was referring not only to the industrial facility under construction in Feira, but also to today’s launch of Help Alliance Portugal, which is the first social organisation the group has launched outside Germany, as well as to the possible establishment of a pilot training school in Portugal, a proposal already supported by the Portuguese Government, which would be overseen by the German Air Force, whilst also being open to training professionals from other allied countries.
“Aviation is one of the fastest-growing sectors outside the information technology sector,” Carsten Spohr said, regarding the relevance of this pilot training project. However, if it goes ahead, the school “will be located outside Lisbon” because, whilst it is true that such a facility requires a location with favourable weather conditions, and this is not a problem in Portugal, where there is “good weather everywhere”, it is also true that a facility designed to train pilots requires “space for training”.
With its broad-based focus on the far west of Europe, the Lufthansa Group aims to improve its connections across the Atlantic and shorten its passengers’ flight times: “Portugal is a gateway to Brazil and, geographically speaking, is perfectly situated for our expansion plans into the Americas. We have great faith in the future of Brazil and Latin America, and in the Lufthansa Group’s ability to establish hubs not only in Europe but also in Africa and in markets close to Europe.”
With 50 daily flights from Portugal, more than 500 jobs across the group’s various companies operating in the country, and the acquisition of “one aircraft a week” despite current aircraft supply shortages, Carsten Spohr points to the potential acquisition of TAP as a further step towards strengthening the brand internationally.
Stating that the Portuguese government is currently conducting “a very professional process to find the right partner” for the national airline, the Lufthansa Group CEO said: “We have the financial resources to invest, and we can provide the passengers. We are confident that we are the best partner for TAP, but we will respect the Portuguese government’s choice – the decision is theirs.”
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