Two South Korean manufacturers are close to finalising supplier contracts for the Boeing 787 and expect to also secure workshare on the Airbus A350.
Industry sources say Korean Air (KAL) Aerospace has already won a contract for six or seven small 787 composite components and is in talks with Boeing and first-tier Japanese suppliers for several additional parts. KAL Aerospace, which already supplies components for all Boeing aircraft currently in production, expects the 787 programme generate at least $1 million in revenues per aircraft. The contracts are purely commercial, involve risk sharing and are not connected to KAL’s order earlier this year for 10 787s.
Sources say rival Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) has signed a memorandum of agreement with first-tier Japanese suppliers to manufacture the fixed trailing edge for the 787 and a final contract will be signed before mid-October. KAI also expects Airbus to decide on its bid for A350 wing components by the end of September.
KAI is seeking to supply the entire wing panel, but sources say Airbus will probably keep most of this work in Europe and only award KAI small wing components. Airbus confirms it is in talks with KAI and says: “We’re trying to see what package is the best, but so far we haven’t found it.” KAL Aerospace is also seeking to participate in the A350 programme, but is not pursuing as large a chunk as KAI. KAL is already a supplier for the Airbus A330 and A340, and KAI manufactures a portion of the A380 wing.
- Boeing has awarded Cobham’s Dräger Aerospace division a contract potentially worth $200 million to supply passenger service units for the 787.
Source: Flight International
