Korean Air and Thai Aviation Industries forge MRO partnership

 

(Seoul, September 2, 2026) – Korean Air has signed a strategic partnership agreement with Thailand’s state-owned Thai Aviation Industries (TAI) to collaborate on maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) for Thai military aircraft. 

The companies signed a Teaming Agreement (TA) on September 2 at the Korean Air Tech Center in Busan with Hyeoncheol Cho, Vice President and Head of Korean Air's Defense Business Department, and Piboon Vorravanpreecha, Managing Director of TAI, in attendance. 

Under the agreement, Korean Air and TAI will initially collaborate on depot-level maintenance for the Royal Thai Army’s UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters. The companies plan to expand the partnership to include other military aircraft operated by the Royal Thai Armed Forces. Korean Air will also support TAI in standardizing military aircraft maintenance processes and providing technical training.

TAI manages the maintenance and logistical support for all aircraft operated by the Thai military. By combining Korean Air’s extensive military MRO expertise with TAI’s established maintenance network and infrastructure in Thailand, the partnership is expected to enhance the operational readiness of the Thai military’s aviation fleet. 

Korean Air brings over 50 years of experience in military aircraft maintenance, having completed depot-level maintenance and performance upgrades for more than 5,500 aircraft. Korean Air began producing UH-60 helicopters in 1991 and has continued to provide maintenance support for the fleet. Building on its proven technical expertise, Korean Air recently secured a major contract to upgrade the helicopters’ performance.

“This partnership marks an important step in bringing Korean Air’s advanced MRO capabilities to Southeast Asia and creating opportunities for mutual growth,” said Hyeoncheol Cho, Vice President and Head of Korean Air's Defense Business Department. “By combining our military aircraft maintenance expertise with TAI’s strong local network, we aim to expand our presence in the regional and global MRO markets.”

About Korean Air Aerospace

Korean Air’s Aerospace is a global leader in aerospace technology. Operating primarily out of its Busan Tech Center and Daejeon Research & Development Center, the division seamlessly integrates half a century of aviation expertise with cutting-edge manufacturing capabilities.

The division specializes in three core areas: the design and manufacturing of complex aircraft structures; comprehensive Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) and upgrade services for military aircraft; and development of advanced Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and space launch technologies. Committed to quality and innovation, Korean Air Aerospace continues to drive the future of aerospace mobility and defense systems.

Korean Air’s aerospace capabilities are supplemented by the airline’s 57-year history, carrying more than 25 million passengers in 2025. With its hub at Incheon International Airport (ICN), the airline serves 116 cities in 39 countries on five continents with over 20,000 professional employees. A founding member of the SkyTeam alliance, Korean Air operates a transpacific joint venture with Delta Air Lines, offering customers a seamless travel network and enhanced benefits.

For more information about Korean Air Aerospace, please visit: http://aerospace.koreanair.com

Tags: Hyeoncheol Cho Korean Air