An Etihad Airways Airbus 340-600, the longest commercial aircraft in use, will today leave Malta after its first class cabin was refurbished nine days ahead of schedule by Lufthansa Technik employees.

The airplane was delivered to representatives of Etihad Airways yesterday during a short ceremony at the Luqa hangar. The refurbishment had to be ready in 30 days but the job was done in 21, to the satisfaction of employees who were gathered for the brief ceremony.

Abu Dhabi's Etihad Airways has signed a refurbishment agreement with Lufthansa Technik for nine aircraft, of which six will be serviced in Malta and three in Hamburg.

Lufthansa Technik Malta CEO Louis Giordimaina said the first class cabin of the aircraft was totally refurbished along with the normal refit. He said the company had a full order book for this year.

Finance Minister Tonio Fenech said Lufthansa's decision to refit six Etihad aircraft in Malta was a major vote of confidence in the workforce's ability and it confirmed Malta as a centre for aviation services.

The A340-600 has the livery celebrating Abu Dhabi's 2009 F1 Grand Prix, which was the first for the emirate.

The aircraft's pilot is Maltese Franco Azzopardi.

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