Lufthansa sets up Alabang service center

MANILA, Philippines - Germany’s Lufthansa Group is expanding its presence in the Philippines by setting up a service center in Alabang for back office and other administrative functions by June this year.

In a statement yesterday, the group said its two business units Lufthansa InTouch (LIT) and Lufthansa Global Business Services (LGBS) have teamed up to establish a company called Lufthansa Services Philippines.

The new company will open the service center in Alabang covering about 4,000-square meters. Target opening is in June.

The service center is expected to have a total of 440 employees over a period of two years.

Once the service center is built up to its full potential, services will be provided on a 24-hour basis, 365 days a year.

LIT and LGBS decided to set up a service center given the availability of highly skilled talent pool in the country.

LIT is engaged in providing services to assist airline passengers of Deutsche Lufthansa AG.

LIT’s team of 190 customer service consultants who will use the service center, will assist in making reservations, booking and selling flight tickets, and assist with baggage inquiries.

“Adding a Manila-based service center to our portfolio contributes to the implementation of our overriding strategic goal,” LIT chief executive officer Erik Mosch said.

LGBS, which specializes in providing services in the areas of finance, revenue accounting, human resources and procurement meanwhile, will have about 250 agents in the Manila service center to engage in financial services.

“The Service Delivery Center in Manila will play a key role in preparing ourselves for future growth,” LGBS senior vice president Astrid Hartmann said.

“We will be able to provide outstanding service and optimize our delivery costs; as a result we expect to expand our business portfolio and attract new customers,” she added.

At present, the Lufthansa Group has operations in the Philippines through Lufthansa Technik Philippines, a joint venture of Lufthansa Technik AG and MacroAsia Corp., offering a wide range of aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul services to customers worldwide.