Friday, March 15, 2024
Korean Air has commenced the construction of a significant aircraft engine maintenance hub in Unbuk, adjacent to Incheon International Airport, with plans for it to be operational by 2027. This upcoming engine maintenance facility will stand as the largest in Asia, significantly enhancing the airline’s capacity for aircraft engine maintenance and solidifying its position in the aviation MRO sector.
The airline held a significant groundbreaking event on March 14, attended by prominent figures such as Walter Cho, who serves as both Chairman and CEO of Korean Air. Also present were Sung-kyu Maeng, a Committee Member of the National Assembly’s Committee on Land, Infrastructure, and Transport; June-young Bae, Congressman of Jung-gu District, Incheon; Jeong-bok Yoo, Mayor of Incheon Metropolitan City; Won-sok Yun, Commissioner of the Incheon Free Economic Zone; and Jong-il Kim, CEO of Kolon Global Corporation.
“The engine is like the heart of the airplane,” said Walter Cho at the groundbreaking ceremony. “Korean Air pledges to uphold the highest standards of safety, and is committed to elevating Korea’s competitive edge in a highly specialized sector of aviation.”
The newly established engine maintenance facility spans seven levels, covering over 140,000 square meters. Kolon Global will undertake the construction of this facility, valued at 578 billion won, strategically situating it next to the existing Engine Test Cell (ETC) operated by the airline since 2016.
Previously, Korean Air managed engine maintenance at its Bucheon facility, with final performance testing at the Unbuk ETC. However, the new engine maintenance cluster aims to consolidate and streamline this process, enhancing operational efficiency by centralizing all phases of maintenance at one location.
This consolidation will significantly boost Korean Air’s aircraft engine maintenance capability, increasing from servicing 100 engines to 360 annually, across a wider range of engine types. Presently, the airline performs overhauls on six engine models, including Pratt & Whitney’s PW4000 and GTF, CFM International’s CFM56, and General Electric’s GE90-115B. The expansion involves incorporating three additional engine models, such as GE’s GEnx and CFMI’s LEAP-1B. Furthermore, Korean Air is considering extending its services to include engines used by Asiana Airlines, such as the Rolls-Royce Trent XWB in the Airbus A350.
The establishment of the new maintenance cluster is expected to create more than 1,000 new jobs, strengthening the competitiveness of the domestic aviation MRO industry and reducing reliance on international maintenance services.
Korean Air occupies a distinctive position as the sole provider of specialized facilities for civilian aircraft engine overhauls in Korea. Since 1976, when it initiated the overhaul of Boeing 707 aircraft engines, Korean Air has revitalized nearly 5,000 engines, catering to various airlines, including its subsidiary Jin Air, as well as global carriers like Delta Air Lines and China Southern Airlines.
The airline’s dedication to maintenance excellence has earned acclaim from numerous prestigious organizations. It holds airworthiness certifications from 13 domestic and international authorities, including the Korean Federal Aviation Administration, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), and the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC).
Saturday, April 27, 2024
