Korean Air Launches Airbus A350-900 Service to Kansai

Monday, January 27, 2025

Korean Air commenced operations of the Airbus A350-900 today, January 27. The inaugural flight is from Seoul/Incheon to Osaka/Kansai, initially deployed on Japanese routes.

The Airbus A350-900 measures 66.89 meters in length, 64.75 meters in width, and 17.05 meters in height. Its cruising speed is 907 km/h with a range of 12,277 km.

In anticipation of increased global passenger demand and further globalization following the integration with Asiana Airlines, Korean Air placed an order for a total of 33 aircraft, including six Airbus A350-900s and 27 Airbus A350-1000s, in April 2024. These aircraft will cover all existing Korean Air routes and allow for the exploration of new long-distance routes. For more information.

The seating configuration includes 28 Prestige Class seats and 283 Economy Class seats, totaling 311 seats.

The Prestige Class features a “1-2-1” staggered arrangement with aisle access for all seats, called the “Prestige Suite.” The seat width is 56 cm, and it extends to 195.5 cm when fully flat. The monitors are 18.5 inches with touchscreen capability and remote control. Power outlets and USB ports are also equipped.

Economy Class has a “3-3-3” layout, with a seat pitch of 81-83 cm and a seat width of 45 cm. The monitor is 11.1 inches, and the recline angle is 118 degrees. The front 39 seats are designated as “Extra Legroom Seats” with a legroom space of 91 cm. Power outlets and USB ports are available.

In addition to onboard Wi-Fi, the in-flight entertainment system is the Panasonic Avionics eX3 system. Korean Air has designed and installed three cargo doors at the front, rear, and bulk sections.

The inaugural flight departed from Seoul/Incheon at 9:05 am, took off at 9:54 am after de-icing procedures, landed at Osaka/Kansai at 11:21 am, and arrived at 11:32 am. The return flight departed Osaka/Kansai at 12:56 pm, took off at 1:18 pm, landed at Seoul/Incheon at 2:51 pm, and arrived at 3:02 pm.

Prior to the commencement of operations, from July 2024, flight crews and instructors underwent specialized training at the Airbus Asia Training Center in Singapore for six months. The dedicated maintenance team also attended multiple training sessions certified by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and are in discussions with manufacturers for self-training of maintenance engineers and engine maintenance.

Until March 29, Korean Air will operate three daily round trips with six flights per day on the Seoul/Incheon to Osaka/Kansai route and one round trip on the Seoul/Incheon to Fukuoka route. Future plans include deploying the aircraft to Taipei, Madrid, and Rome.