Korean Air Delivers 5,000th Sharklet for Airbus A320

Korean Air has reached a landmark moment in its aerospace manufacturing business, delivering its 5,000th Sharklet wingtip device for the Airbus A320 family. The milestone was celebrated with a ceremony on April 23 at the airline's Busan Tech Center, where attendees toured Korean Air's aerostructure manufacturing and MRO facilities. Fifteen partner companies were recognised for their contributions to the programme.

The Sharklet is the distinctive L-shaped device fitted to the wingtips of A320 family aircraft. Its purpose is straightforward but impactful — by reducing aerodynamic drag, it improves fuel efficiency and cuts carbon emissions, making it a small but meaningful part of the industry's broader push toward more sustainable aviation.

Korean Air's involvement in the programme dates back to 2010, when it was selected as a manufacturer following a competitive bid process. The first delivery came in July 2012, and since then the airline has steadily scaled up production through its Auto Moving Line system, which enabled significant capacity gains over the years.

Reaching 5,000 units is a testament to over a decade of consistent manufacturing output and quality control. Jong Seok Yoo, Korean Air's Executive Vice President and Chief Safety and Operating Officer, described the achievement as a reflection of the airline's engineering excellence and its long-standing relationship with Airbus, adding that the company intends to keep raising its capabilities and standards in support of the wider global aerospace industry.