Korean Air’s first two Airbus A350-900s have entered commercial service, with the carrier first deploying them on short-haul flights.
The A350s – the first two of 33 examples – began operating twice-daily flights between Seoul Incheon and Osaka, as well as between Seoul Incheon and Fukuoka.
The SkyTeam carrier says the A350 will be initially deployed on Japanese flights, before operating to Taipei in March. By the second half of the year, Korean Air will deploy them on long-haul European flights, including to Madrid and Rome.
Korean first announced its intention to order the A350 in March 2024, before firming the order up in less than a month. The 33-aircraft deal comprises six A350-900s and 27 -1000s.
Its A350-900s are configured to seat 311 passengers in a two-class configuration, with 28 business-class seats and 283 economy-class seats. Korean has not disclosed the configuration for the larger -1000s.
The A350s are expected to replace older widebodies. Airline Business data shows the airline’s existing widebody fleet to include Boeing 777s, 747s, 787s, as well as Airbus A330s and A380s.
In the lead-up to service entry, Korean says it has “assembled a dedicated team of experienced pilots for A350 operations, selecting veterans with extensive experience across various Airbus aircraft”. The airline has also “implemented a comprehensive technical maintenance programme”.
The move comes amid its integration with compatriot Asiana Airlines, which is also an A350 operator. Korean completed the long-drawn acquisition of Asiana in December 2024, and expects to fully integrate the latter’s operations by end-2026.
