[Report] "South Korea Is the Only One Besides Israel"... Incheon Airport Rises as a 224 Trillion Won Aviation MRO Hub

A Visit to Incheon Airport's Advanced Composite Aviation Complex
Full-scale Conversion Work: Passenger Jets to Cargo Aircraft
Localizing Aviation MRO, Reducing Overseas Dependence

On the morning of August 6, at the IKCS (Incheon Korea Conversion Services) aircraft modification facility within the Advanced Complex Aviation Cluster at Incheon International Airport, the process of converting a Boeing B777 passenger aircraft into a cargo plane intended for use by the Hong Kong cargo airline Flymeta was in full swing. This complex process, taking a total of approximately 180 days, involves dismantling all equipment inside the passenger aircraft and then installing the cargo loading system (CLS) and other systems and facilities required for cargo aircraft operations.

On the 6th, work is underway to convert a Boeing B777 passenger aircraft into a cargo plane at the IKCS cargo aircraft modification facility within the Advanced Complex Aviation Cluster at Incheon International Airport. 2026.8.6 Photo by Airport Photographers Group

Cargo conversion work for the B777 model is only possible in South Korea and Israel. The technology to convert a passenger aircraft into a freighter capable of transporting 100 tons of cargo is exclusively owned by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), an Israeli state-owned defense company. Sharp Technics K, a Korean aircraft maintenance specialist, has received technology transfer from IAI. The IKCS facility visited on this day is a joint venture established by IAI and Sharp Technics K.

The aircraft currently being modified is scheduled to be delivered to the client in early November, and the conversion work for the second aircraft is set to begin on the 18th. At this initial stage of technology transfer, it takes about 180 days to complete one aircraft, but Sharp Technics K plans to reduce the project period to as little as 120 days through increased proficiency and internalization of the technology. From 2029 onwards, the company will have the capacity to carry out up to six conversions per year.

On the 6th, work is underway to convert a Boeing B777 passenger aircraft into a cargo plane at the IKCS cargo aircraft modification facility within the Advanced Integrated Aviation Complex at Incheon International Airport. 2026.8.6 Photo by Airport Photographers Group

The aircraft modification business is expected to mark a pivotal moment for Incheon Airport to emerge as a major aviation MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) hub in the Asia-Pacific region. As of this year, the global MRO market is estimated at around 171 trillion won, and it is forecast to reach approximately 224 trillion won by 2035. If Incheon Airport grows into a global MRO hub, it is anticipated to generate significant employment and economic benefits.

So far, the aviation MRO business in Korea has faced limitations due to an underdeveloped industry ecosystem, high labor costs, and substantial initial investments, resulting in more than 60% of the domestic MRO market—worth about 4 trillion won—being dependent on overseas providers. In response, the government has been striving to enhance domestic competitiveness by implementing measures such as the 'Aviation Maintenance Industry Competitiveness Reinforcement Plan' and the '6th Comprehensive Airport Development Plan.'

On the 6th, work is underway to convert a Boeing B777 aircraft into a cargo plane at the IKCS freighter conversion facility within the Incheon Airport Advanced Complex Aviation Cluster in Yeongjong-gu, Incheon. Incheon International Airport plans to leverage the full-scale operation of this conversion facility to become a hub encompassing the high value-added Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) industry, facilitating domestic aircraft parts companies' entry into the global supply chain and revitalizing the regional economy. 2026.8.6 Photo by Airport Press Photographers Group

Incheon Airport has successfully attracted investment not only for the IKCS conversion facility but also for the maintenance facilities of Trinity Aviation and Korean Air. Since heavy maintenance, modifications, and post-lease painting are all essential, the airport plans to further enhance the completeness of its Advanced Complex Aviation Cluster and offer one-stop MRO services by actively inviting additional paint hangar investments, thereby bolstering its global competitiveness.

Bumho Kim, acting CEO of Incheon International Airport Corporation, stated, "We will ensure the seamless construction of the Advanced Complex Aviation Cluster at Incheon Airport to bring maintenance demand, which used to flow overseas, back to Korea," and added, "We will establish ourselves as a global aviation MRO hub and contribute to creating new growth engines for the future."

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