The new Lufthansa Technik hangar that will be big enough to maintain A380 aeroplanes will be completed and ready to operate with its first employees by October 2008, said Investment, Industry and IT Minister Austin Gatt yesterday.

Speaking during a visit to the Malta Council for Arts, Science and Technology’s (MCAST) Aviation Maintenance Training Centre, Dr Gatt said the foundation stone of the new hangar will be laid at the beginning of next month.

He said MCAST was crucial for Malta’s economic development. The government wants the college and University of Malta to be able to train enough students to satisfy the growing demand for skilled and trained people in the coming years.

The closure of low-end manufacturing companies means that expansion is taking place in other industries that pay more, particularly the aviation maintenance sector.

Maltese people are being employed and trained with a number of airlines, particularly Lufthansa Technik, Air Malta, Medavia and Aeromotive Inc., said Dr Gatt.

These companies are all expressing satisfaction with the capabilities of their Maltese employees, who are not only skilled, but are capable of adapting themselves accordingly and the English language being one of the country’s official languages is also one of our main assets, said Dr Gatt.