"This hangar represents a first step on a long investment journey," said , CEO of Luxair. He was accompanied by transport and public works minister (déi Gréng), lux-Airport CEO Alexander Flassak and the mayor of Sandweiler Simone Massard-Stitz (CSV).
The warehouse, to be built by the company, will be added to the Luxembourg Airport operating company's property portfolio as soon as it is delivered and will be leased to Luxair. This process has already been tried and tested for the , located right next to the new hangar. The new warehouse is scheduled for the end of 2023.
Towards new aircraft?
The cost of the project has not been revealed, but for Feith, "it is a very significant investment in the future of our company". The company posted a historic loss of €155m in 2020 and a net loss of €33.7m last year. Although its director admitted that "Luxair is still in an extremely difficult financial situation,” Feith showed his willingness to move forward: "This is a first step towards refleeting, investing in new aircraft".
Feith explained that the new hangar, built to the south-west of the runway and measuring 110m by 100m, will be able to accommodate three Boeing 737s or three Airbus A320s or three Embrarers or even three Boeing 737 Maxes.
Luxair currently has four Boeing 737-700s and as many Boeing 737-800s, as well as 11 Havilland Q-400s. But the Nennig maintenance hangar--located on the other side of the Findel runway--is three times smaller than its successor and cannot accommodate all of the company's Boeing 737s.
Uncertain future ahead for Nennig warehouse
Luxair intends to continue operations in the Nennig hangar until it moves into the new building. Its owner lux-Airport says it has not yet decided on the use of the building. "The building is a listed national monument, so demolition is not permitted," said Alexander Flassak, CEO of lux-Airport.
During the inauguration of the Luxembourg Air Rescue (LAR) hangar in 2009, the then transport minister Lucien Lux (LSAP) expressed his wish to support LAR in order to benefit from the Nennig hangar after the relocation of Luxair’s services. However, the operator acquired a new hangar for its fleet of planes and helicopters last September. It confirmed that it was no longer interested in the neighbouring building.
It should also be noted that in 2014, lux-Airport renovated the warehouse, including the addition of covered outdoor storage areas. The building, which was built in the 1950s, was the first hangar of the Luxair airline, which celebrated its 60th anniversary this year.
This story was first published in French on . It has been translated and edited for Delano.