Korean Air stands at forefront of global aerospace industry

Korean Air's Boeing 787-10 passenger jet / Courtesy of Korean Air

Korean Air has established itself as a pivotal player in the global aerospace industry, supplying major structural components to aircraft manufacturers such as Boeing and Airbus, and tightening its competitiveness in the defense and maintenance sectors.

The flag carrier made its foray into the aircraft component manufacturing sector in 1986 by producing wing structures for the Boeing 747 passenger jet. The airline has since diversified its parts supplies to a broader range of Boeing aircraft series, including the 717, 737, 767, 777 and 747-8.

Korean Air started gaining global recognition in the aircraft component manufacturing sector in 2004, clinching a joint parts development agreement with Boeing for the 787 Dreamliner.

The airline delivered its first structural parts to the aircraft in 2007 and has since done so for more than 1,200 Dreamliner jets.

Currently, Korean Air produces five key components for the Boeing 787, including the rear fuselage, raked wingtips, flap support fairings and afterbodies. With the global aviation industry entering a major recovery phase following the COVID-19 pandemic, Korean Air is expected to manufacture parts for 120 Boeing 787 aircraft annually.

Hanjin Group and Korean Air Chairman Cho Won-tae, center, shovels dirt during the groundbreaking ceremony for the airline's new engine maintenance factory on Yeongjong Island in Incheon, March 14, 2024. Courtesy of Korean Air

Korean Air is also deepening its partnership with Airbus. In 2010, the airline defeated its rivals from Japan, France and Germany to become the sole producer of the Sharklet — an aerodynamic wingtip device designed to reduce air resistance and improve fuel efficiency — for the A320 series.

The company succeeded in its first delivery for the parts in 2012, and has supplied some 4,200 Sharklets. Korean Air is also renowned for its technological and manufacturing prowess by overseeing every step from design and certification to mass production.

In 2015, Korean Air also won a bid to become the exclusive Sharklet supplier for the Airbus A330neo. The airline also joined Airbus’ international joint research initiative — Wing of Tomorrow — and contributed to the development of advanced composite wing technologies and securing a strong foothold in the next-generation aerospace innovation.

In addition, Korean Air has a track record of other accomplishments, successfully delivering forward and rear cargo doors and bulk cargo doors for 800 A350 aircrafts.

In 2020, it also signed an additional contract with Airbus Helicopters to supply components. The cargo doors are considered complex composite structures critical to flight safety. They were entirely designed and developed by Korean Air, helping the airline prove its technological competitiveness in the global aviation industry.

Officials from Korean Air repair a UH-60 military helicopter at its maintenance facility in Busan in this undated photo. Courtesy of Korean Air

Trusted defense partner

Korean Air is reinforcing its role as a trusted defense contractor. In April this year, the airline was named the preferred bidder for a project to upgrade the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters. The deal was worth some 1 trillion won ($731 million).

The contract follows Korean Air’s history of manufacturing 130 Black Hawks since 1991. The latest outcome proves the airline’s competitiveness in not just in mass production for helicopters, but in military aircraft maintenance as well.

The airline also overhauled 437 F-4 fighter jets and offered upgrade and maintenance services for other major military aircrafts, such as the F-5, F-15, C-130, HH-60 and CH-47. Korean Air is currently engaging in life-extension programs for the F-16 and the development of core technologies for unmanned aerial vehicles.

Korean Air’s hangar at its headquarters near Gimpo International Airport in Seoul / Courtesy of Korean Air

MRO competitiveness

Korean Air is famous for obtaining world-class maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) capabilities — enabled by its comprehensive maintenance infrastructure covering airframes, engines and components. The company operates hangars in major cities, such as Incheon, Gimpo and Busan, to offer maintenance and repair services for a wide range of aircrafts.

In 2021, the airline was selected by Pratt & Whitney as an official MRO partner for the maintenance of the latter’s next-generation PW1100G-JM engine. Korean Air began servicing the engines from October 2023, and is scheduled to handle more than 100 engines annually. This is a major large-scale engine MRO contract won by a Korean firm.

Korean Air has secured a strong reputation, particularly in engine maintenance. Starting from 1972, the company has offered MRO services to more than 5,000 aircraft engines. Global aviation authorities in countries from the United States, Europe and China have granted certifications to Korean Air’s MRO services.