Colombo: Sri Lanka’s national airline announced Wednesday plans to set up a regional aircraft repair hub with the help of German carrier Lufthansa.

The aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul operations will be a centrepiece of the new $209 million (Dh768.7 million) Mattala Rajapakse International Airport which opened in March, officials said.

Sri Lankan Airlines said it was working out details with Lufthansa AG’s maintenance arm, Lufthansa Technik, to open the repair facility at the Chinese-built international airport in the island’s south by next July.