The company triumphed despite repercussions of the Covid-19 pandemic on the aviation industry
Lufthansa Technik Philippines (LTP) – the country’s top provider of maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services for civil, commercial and VIP aircrafts – clinched not one but two prestigious awards at the Asia Corporate Excellence and Sustainability Awards (ACES) 2021.
Organised by MORS Group, the ACES Awards acknowledges successful corporations and business leaders in Asia across two key domains – leadership and sustainability – and honours their contributions in making the world and their communities a better place.
LTP was established in 2000 as a joint venture between Hamburg-based Lufthansa Technik AG and MacroAsia Corporation, Philippines’ largest aviation support service provider. Now in its 21st year of operations, LTP boasts a central maintenance hub in Manila with 10 hangars. It specialises in base and line management as well as maintenance for the A320 aircraft family – A330, A340, A380 and B777. This includes tailored maintenance programmes, modification, completion and conversion, innovative cabin products, material pooling, engine services and digital fleet support.
As one of the 36 affiliates and subsidiaries within the Lufthansa Technik network, LTP consistently ensures service that is of superior quality, safety and reliability, aptly reflecting its world-renowned standards and relentlessly showcasing Philippines as an aviation stronghold in Asia Pacific.
Taking care of its people
Aside from being recognised as one of the top workplaces in Asia, the company’s president and chief executive officer Elmar Lutter was also honoured as one of the region’s outstanding leaders.
The Top Workplaces in Asia award was bestowed upon the company for its thorough investment in employee welfare. Despite the challenging conditions faced by the aviation industry due to Covid-19, LTP managed to revamp its business to adapt and achieve organisational agility, in preparation for the reality of a post-pandemic sector.
As a leading employer of choice, LTP retains its stature year after year as one of the most sought-after firms for aviation and aeronautical graduates. This is due to the company’s holistic employee experience, made up of competitive compensation packages and benefits, advantageous international exposure as well as comprehensive learning, development and support programmes.
LTP has nurtured a formidable community within the workplace for its workforce of 2,800 that champions interconnectivity in an altruistic environment, thus empowering its employees to grow both personally and professionally.
Besides keeping the attrition rate down at 20 per cent, LTP has extended a slew of measures to tide its people over this difficult time, including provision of meals, supplements and vaccinations. It also offered other forms of assistance like a side hustle programme and mental health aid.
Plus, LTP has consistently developed its capabilities to uplift its employees’ quality of life, going as far as offering support for those who have been separated from the company at the height of the pandemic. It is equally committed to refining the skills of its workforce through its learning and development curriculum, and emphasising the cultivation of a culture that promotes staff engagement while attracting, developing, motivating and retaining talents.
This was not an easy feat and would not have been made possible without the impeccable resilience of Mr Lutter, who has seen the company through its disruptive growth for over 30 years, with roles in Germany, Hungary, Puerto Rico and Philippines. He persevered throughout the pandemic while remaining committed to LTP’s unchanging vision – to become the top MRO service provider in Asia as part of the Lufthansa Technik group.
Even though the aviation industry has remained one of the hardest-hit sectors from the very start of the Covid-19 crisis, he remained steadfast in his exemplary stewardship, which reflects the five Lufthansa leadership principles: drive the business, create spirit, lead change, foster talent and master complexity. LTP’s head honcho is also driven by his strong intuition and believes in honouring commitments and treating others as equals.
At the height of the pandemic, Mr Lutter successfully manoeuvred the company through the uncertainties while countering the repercussions by developing recovery action plans that spotlighted three conditions – cash flow, alignment and impartiality. He focused on internal synergies, prioritised projects, and identified new business opportunities.
His able leadership has not only kept the business afloat but also fostered a strong sense of loyalty within LTP by ensuring that the lines of communication are consistently kept open, and that each employee is involved and updated with key developments and decisions.
It takes an exceptional leader to be able to inculcate a strong sense of belonging and value across all organisational levels – and Mr Lutter has done just that.
Find out more about the ACES Awards here.
Originally published in The Business Times (November 19, 2021) https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/hub/aces-awards-2021/lufthansa-technik-philippines-shines-with-two-big-wins
