Some exciting news coming from Korean Air. The flag carrier, currently undergoing a merger with Asiana, has just received a new aircraft type with new and improved cabin interiors. So, let’s find out what the new aircraft has to offer, when it’ll first fly and what makes it special.
- The First Boeing 787-10 to join Korean Air’s fleet
- What does the new aircraft offer in terms of passenger experience?
- Where will it fly first?
The First Boeing 787-10 to join Korean Air’s fleet
The Boeing 787-10 isn’t the most popular aircraft type out there. Many operators have opted for the 8 and 9 variants which ensure a longer range and more operational flexibility. Including Korean Air there are only 10 airlines around the world that operate this aircraft type.
The aircraft arrived at Korean’s main hub in Seoul-Incheon airport on July 19th from the assembly line in Charleston, South Carolina. The aircraft is registered as HL8515 and is capable of carrying up to 325 passenger over a distance of 11,175 kilometers.
Korean Air’s Stunning New Cabin Interiors
What makes this aircraft special though is the cabin interiors, particularly the Business Class cabin. A redesign of the premium cabin interiors was long overdue for the Korean carrier.
The best seating offered was not all that modern being based on the Collins Aerospace Apex seat. These seats, although not the most modern, offer direct aisle access to all passengers and a good level of privacy in a 2-2-2 layout.
However many plance still feature the older business class seat option, which are based on the Collins Aerospace MiniPod seat in a 2-3-2 layout. The same layout Emirates has on most of its 777s which has 3 passengers per row without direct aisle access.
The new, so called, Prestige 2.0 business class seats are set up in a much more modern 1-2-1 layout. The first shots the airline gave us look really good. The vibes I got from both the cabin and the layout is half way between Etihad’s Business Class and Qatar Airways’ QSuites.
The colours and the mood in Korean Air’s new Prestige 2.0 business class reminds me a lot of what is found on Etihad. The possibility of having a honeymoon suite is much alike the QSuites on the other hand.
Talking about how to choose the right seat for you. The even numbered rows have the window seats closer to the fuselage and further away from the aisle. That means you have a little more privacy and a better view out of the window. Also the even numbered seats have honeymoon suites in the center of the cabin. The two seats are close to each other and the divider comes completely down allowing you to enjoy each other’s company without any partitions. Last but not least, maybe keep away from window seats in row 7 and 11 as they only have 1 window.
Despite the stunning new business class cabin, the Boeing 787-10s won’t be particularly premium heavy. They will feature:
- 36 Business Class seats.
- 289 Economy Class seats (in a standard 3-3-3 layout).
Where will The Korean Air Boeing 787-10 fly first?
The first flight is scheduled for July 25th 2024. Its first flight will see it fly from KE’s base in Seoul-Incheon international airport to Tokyo Haneda in Japan. As often is the case with new plane types joining airline fleets, the Boeing 787-10 might first serve short and medium range destinations before moving on to long-haul services.
Because of the aircraft’s range of 11,700km these planes are to become common on long haul but not ULR flights. Most likely uses include flights to Europe, Australia or the US west coast. HL8515 is only the first of what will be a long list of 787-10 to join the airline.
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