The North American maintenance division of German carrier Lufthansa marked the opening of its Tulsa workshop expansion on Monday.
Lufthansa Technik Component Services, or LTCS, has opened a 115,000 square foot component shop, doubling the size of its Tulsa facility. When LTCS Tulsa opened, it had five employees. Now, it has nearly 300.
"And I think that says a lot about the confidence in the workforce that we have here and that Tulsa's a great place to do business and to grow over the long term," said Mayor G.T. Bynum.
Lufthansa intends for the Tulsa workshop to play a major part in supporting its growing portfolio of North American clients and contracts for aircraft and component repair.
Lufthansa Technik Board Member Thomas Stüger said thanks to state and local support, the company’s various subsidiaries have roughly 400 employees in Tulsa — one-third of all its North American workforce.
"Technical schools like Spartan Aeronautical and Tulsa Tech, and first-class state and private universities provide a steady supply of technicians and professionals who are proud to call Tulsa home," Stüger said. "And people are the most ingredient of our business."
German Consulate General Thomas Meister said uncertainty around international trade started by President Trump’s America-first agenda could be felt in Oklahoma.
"German companies employ around 4,000 people alone in Oklahoma, ranking fourth, behind Canada, United Kingdom and France," Meister said. "Our economies have become closely interwoven, and both countries mutually benefit. On the flip side, they would likewise severely suffer from any type of disengagement."