Korean Air Lines said on the 24th that the number of A320 wing parts, Sharklet, it supplied to European aircraft maker Airbus has reached a cumulative 5,000.
The Sharklet is a type of winglet attached to the tip of an aircraft wing to reduce vortices. Developed by Airbus, it was named for its resemblance to a shark fin.
In 2010, Korean Air Lines beat corporations from Japan, France and Germany in an international bid for the Airbus A320 series performance improvement program and was selected as the Sharklet manufacturer, and it has been producing and supplying them.
It successfully completed production of the first unit in July 2012, and it has now installed an Auto Moving Line facility with the capacity to produce more than 50 units a month.
To mark the cumulative production of 5,000 units, Korean Air Lines held a "A320 Sharklet 5,000th unit delivery ceremony" on the previous day (the 23rd) at the Korean Air Lines Tech Center in Gangseo District, Busan.
Attendees included Yu Jong-seok, executive vice president and head of safety and health as well as the operations institutional sector at Korean Air Lines, Benoit Schultz, Airbus chief procurement officer (CPO), and Lim Jin-gyu, head of the aerospace division at Korean Air Lines.
Participants toured aircraft structures developed and manufactured by Korean Air Lines and its maintenance and production facilities, directly confirming its technological prowess and production capacity.
In congratulatory remarks, Executive Vice President Yu said, "Today's 5,000th unit is more than a simple production record; it is a proud symbol that proves Korean Air Lines' capabilities as a key partner in the global aerospace industry."
At the event, Korean Air Lines presented Sharklet-shaped objects to 15 partner companies at home and abroad, including Airbus, to commemorate their collaboration. It also held an awards ceremony to recognize the hard work of employees of Korean Air Lines and its partner companies.