Seoul: Concerns regarding maintenance issues among low-cost carriers (LCCs) have arisen following the recent Jeju Air crash, according to industry analysts. The incident, attributed to a possible landing gear malfunction of a Jeju Air B737-800, has prompted fears that the airline may have prioritized flight operations over adequate maintenance, potentially jeopardizing safety.
Data from the transport ministry reveals that domestic airlines spent a total of 1.99 trillion won (approximately US$1.35 billion) on overseas maintenance in 2023, marking a 58.2 percent increase from 1.26 trillion won in 2019. The situation is even more critical for domestic LCCs, whose overseas maintenance expenditures reached 502.7 billion won last year, up 63.6 percent in the same timeframe. Notably, LCCs conducted 71.1 percent of their repairs abroad in 2023.
In South Korea, only the full-service carriers Korean Air and Asiana Airlines have the capability to carry out significant repairs, including engine overhauls, thanks to their own maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facilities. In contrast, LCCs must outsource major repairs, leading to a limited domestic MRO landscape, with Korean Air and Korea Aviation Engineering & Maintenance Service being the primary providers.
Jeju Air’s CEO, Kim E-bae, acknowledged the company’s reliance on overseas MRO providers during a recent press briefing, stating that while some repairs are conducted locally, the majority are sent abroad. Experts emphasize the need to develop a strong domestic MRO industry to enhance the maintenance capabilities of LCCs.
The global aviation MRO market is expected to grow to $124.1 billion by 2034, but South Korea’s progress in developing its MRO sector has been slow. In August 2021, the transport ministry unveiled plans to boost the competitiveness of the domestic MRO industry, targeting a local maintenance share of 70 percent by 2024. However, significant developments, such as the groundbreaking of the Incheon Airport Advanced Aviation Complex for MRO services, only began in April of last year.
An anonymous industry insider noted that the heavy reliance of most LCCs on overseas specialists for major repairs can lead to issues related to cost and efficiency.