Lufthansa Technik Shannon Limited just delivered the last Boeing 787 of Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd. undergoing base maintenance checks. The airline awarded Lufthansa Technik a contract for the maintenance of six aircraft of the type making Virgin Atlantic become the first customer of the German MRO service provider for Boeing 787 base maintenance. The aircraft were welcomed at Lufthansa Technik’s Irish overhaul facility where had been performed C1-Checks as well as several modifications and additional repair work. Thomas Rueckert, Senior Vice President Base Maintenance at Lufthansa Technik, said: “The successful completion of our first 787 base maintenance contract marks an extremely important milestone for our 787 service portfolio and a further expansion of our long-standing relationship with Virgin Atlantic. We invested extensively in training, tooling and preparation for the arrival of the Boeing 787, and it certainly paid off as we achieved competitive turn-around times for these inputs.”

The German MRO service provider has established a comprehensive technical support for all phases of the Dreamliner's life cycle. Besides line and heavy airframe maintenance, this includes integrated material support and composite repairs as well as landing gear services, an Aircraft Production Inspection Program and access to Lufthansa Technik's digital fleet solutions.

Note that even though these aircraft underwent in-depth checks and overhaul in the Irish facility, the recent motor failure of a Norwegian's Boeing 787 aircraft above Fiumicino’s airport area in Italy may be taken as a warning for Dreamliner operators to ensure engine safety.