OEM Aftermarket Services

Liebherr-Aerospace Secures Major Landing Gear Overhaul Contract for Korean Air Widebodies

Korean Air has signed a multi-year agreement with Liebherr-Aerospace to provide comprehensive maintenance, repair, and overhaul services for the landing gear systems on its Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet. This long-term service agreement reinforces the growing trend of original equipment manufacturers securing direct lifecycle support contracts for critical narrow and widebody components. By bypassing third-party shops in favor of the OEM, the South Korean carrier gains access to proprietary technical documentation and specialized tooling essential for the complex hydraulic and structural overhaul of Boeing 787 shipsets. The partnership ensures high-cycle reliability for the airline's long-haul operations while stabilizing maintenance costs through a structured aftermarket framework. Liebherr-Aerospace will execute the technical work at its specialized service centers, focusing on structural integrity inspections and component replacements. This contract signals a strategic pivot by major Asia-Pacific operators to shore up their supply chains amidst global parts shortages. By locking in shop capacity with the manufacturer, the carrier mitigates the risks of turnaround time delays that currently plague the global MRO sector. The move also reflects a broader regional push to upgrade fleet readiness as international passenger traffic continues its post-pandemic trajectory toward record levels. Signals: Lead times for landing gear forging replacements and the expansion of OEM-owned repair facilities in Singapore.