Korean Air Begins Airbus A350 Flights

Korean Air is beginning flights with a new aircraft type, the Airbus A350, as part of its plans to welcome Asiana Airlines into its business.

The aircraft, specifically the A350-900 variant, has been ordered to bolster the airline’s next generation and prepare for Asiana Airlines’ upcoming integration into the business.

Asiana Airlines, a heavy operator of the A350-900, and Korean Air believe this aircraft will be important in the future, so they have ordered more.

These Airbus A350s are to have a capacity of 311 passengers. The airline expects to deploy the units across a wide array of regional and eventually international markets with the arrival of further planes.

Of the capacity for 311 passengers, there are to be 28 Prestige Class seats and, at the back of the cabin space, 283 seats in standard Economy class, making this a two-class layout.

Korean Air says a dedicated team of veteran pilots have been assembled to operate the newly delivered Airbus A350 to ensure operations go smoothly.

Moreover, preparation for flight crews included completing six months of intensive training in Singapore, home to an Airbus Asia Training Centre. During this comprehensive training, instructor qualification programs were initiated.

The A350 Routes At Korean Air

Initially, Korean Air said that the aircraft would be deployed on service to Japan, with HL8958 departing to Osaka twice a day from its home in Seoul Incheon.

Meanwhile, the second flight departing will be operated by HL8597 from Seoul Inchehon through Fukuoaka on a round-trip daily service to meet increased seasonal demand to the popular location.

However, starting in March, the airline expects to expand the list of destinations that will welcome the Airbus A350, with Taipei added. Japan short-distance flights are the perfect way to familiarise with the new widebody type.

International routes are expected to launch eventually. The A350 will initially serve Madrid and Rome as its first two destinations outside of Asia, and these will launch in the second half of the 2025 calendar year.

Korean Air is excited about the A350’s potential for its business, especially given the upcoming integration of Asiana Airlines’ delivered units from this family.

While the A350-900 is present, the arrival of the high-capacity A350-1000 jets will also present new opportunities for the airline to complement the -900 model by catering to demand in specific locations.