UK low-cost carrier EasyJet recently awarded Lufthansa Technik a contract to conduct base maintenance on Airbus A320-family jets in Malta.

The German MRO provider says "more than 100" of the aircraft will be overhauled by Lufthansa Technik Malta over the next five years; eight will additionally undergo interior reconfiguration as part of intermediate layovers, or IL-checks. (Other media in Malta spoke of 250 planes)

EasyJet director of engineering Ian Davies stated that the airline is "convinced of the quality of the base maintenance services we can expect from Lufthansa Technik Malta", on the basis of "our experience with Lufthansa Technik in Berlin, Brussels, Budapest, Milan and Sofia, and the co-operation we recently started at [London] Gatwick airport".

Lufthansa Technik Malta chief executive Marcus Motschenbacher notes that more than 100 employees will work "directly or indirectly" on EasyJet aircraft. The agreement "will allow us to increase the workforce by at least 50 new colleagues", he adds.

Work for EasyJet will also be undertaken in Bulgarian capital Sofia, states Stephan Drewes, LHT's vice-president of production network aircraft base maintenance.

Earlier this year, EasyJet extended a base maintenance contract with SR Technicsfor five years. The Swiss MRO specialist has been completing IL-checks forEasyJet at its Maltese facility since 2010.

In addition to IL-checks, the contract extension covers cabin reconfiguration, for which SR Technics will establish a third, dedicated maintenance line.

LHT and SR Technics are to work independently on EasyJet's fleet and will not share work packages for individual aircraft, LHT told FlightGlobal.

Flight Fleets Analyzer shows that EasyJet has 144 A319s and 112 A320s in service. The Luton-based carrier has a further 37 A320s and 130 A320neos on order.

According to New Europe, the airline has moved its maintenance base to Malta from the UK. The decision seems to have been catalyzed by Britain's decision to leave the EU.

In July EasyJet started the process of acquiring an AOC (air operator certificate) from an EU member state to continue flying as a European company.

According to EasyJet's Director Ian Davis, this means up to four company aircraft will be on the island at all times undergoing maintenance.

Just before the referendum EasyJet opened a new purpose built two bay hangar facility for maintenance at Gatwick Airport - which is over 5,400 square metres with superior thermal properties to reduce energy costs - provided by RUBB.

Building commenced in November 2015 and has included the installation of a sub-station and gas plant, pulling power cables from one side of LGW to the other, fitting 8,700m2 of PVC membrane and laying 100 metres of drainage.  780 tonnes of concrete were used along with 280 tonnes of steel and 8,000 nuts, bolts and washers. To complete the build two sets of 'Megadoor' hangar doors were fitted to allow access to the two A319 and A320 bay facility. The hangar is complimented by a 550sqm external logistics and office building.