Yeongjongdo to Become an Aircraft Maintenance Hub as Korean Air's MRO Cluster Project Moves Forward

Incheon Approves Industrial Site Plan to Attract Korean Air
Engine Maintenance Output Projected to Increase 5.7 Times by 2030

The large-scale aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) cluster project by Korean Air, which will serve as a springboard for Yeongjongdo, Incheon to become Asia's largest MRO hub, is now set to move forward in earnest.

According to the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority on May 20, the City of Incheon recently held an Industrial Site Review Committee meeting and approved the original plan for Korean Air to move into the Yeongjong Aviation General Industrial Complex.

As a result, Korean Air plans to invest 150 billion won in a 50,692 square meter site in Unbuk-dong, Jung-gu, to build advanced engine and parts maintenance facilities and infrastructure. Korean Air is already operating engine test facilities in the Unbuk-dong area of Jung-gu, and recently invested 580 billion won to construct an engine maintenance plant, which is scheduled for completion in the fourth quarter of this year.

The creation of this MRO cluster is significant as it represents a "technology-intensive" industry that goes beyond simple maintenance facilities. Among aircraft maintenance fields, engine and parts maintenance are high value-added sectors that require advanced technical expertise and specialized personnel, compared to general maintenance work.

Bird's-eye view of Korean Air Aircraft Maintenance (MRO) Cluster. Provided by Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority

The Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority projects that once Korean Air's MRO cluster is completed, annual engine maintenance output will increase from the current 88 units to about 502 units by 2030. In addition, it expects that more than 2,000 specialized professionals in the MRO sector will be stationed in the Unbuk district of Yeongjongdo, helping to revitalize the regional economy.

Following the approval of Korean Air's entry into the Yeongjong Aviation General Industrial Complex, the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority plans to request priority allocation of the site to the project developers (Korea Land and Housing Corporation and Incheon Urban Development Corporation), with a land sales contract scheduled for August. After detailed design, construction is planned to begin in 2029, with completion and full-scale operations targeted for 2031.

Yoon Baekjin, Acting Commissioner (Deputy Commissioner) of the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority, stated, "We will do our utmost to provide administrative support until the completion of Korean Air's MRO cluster so that it can be successfully completed and enhance the national competitiveness of the aviation industry."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.