Korean Air Deploys Airbus' Advanced Mid-to-Large Aircraft 'A350' on Japan Routes for the First Time

Long-haul Flights to Madrid, Rome, and More Planned for the Second Half of the Year
Veteran Flight Crew Selected and Dedicated Maintenance Team Formed

Korean Air announced on the 26th that it will deploy the first and second Airbus state-of-the-art mid-to-large aircraft A350-900 on the Japan route starting on the 27th.

Korean Air A350-900 aircraft. Provided by Korean Air

The first aircraft (HL8598) will be deployed on the Incheon-Osaka route. The inaugural flight is KE723 departing from Incheon on the morning of the 27th, and it plans to operate twice daily on this route. The second aircraft (HL8597) will operate the KE789 flight from Incheon to Fukuoka in the afternoon of the same day. It will operate one round trip daily on this route.

Korean Air plans to deploy the A350-900 on international medium-to-long-haul routes such as Taipei, Taiwan during this summer season, and Madrid, Spain and Rome, Italy in the second half of this year, starting with the Japan round-trip flights.

The A350-900 is Airbus's long-haul wide-body (two or more aisles) aircraft, with a fuselage length of 66.89 m and a height of 17.05 m, making it wider and taller than other aircraft in its class. Its maximum flight range exceeds 12,000 km, enabling non-stop flights to all regions of Europe, the western United States, and major eastern cities such as New York.

It is considered a next-generation eco-friendly and high-efficiency aircraft that improves fuel consumption per seat by about 40% compared to the super-large A380 passenger aircraft. Airbus applied carbon composite materials to more than 50% of the aircraft fuselage for the first time, reducing the aircraft weight while increasing durability. The engines are equipped with Rolls-Royce (RR) Trent XWB (Trent Extra Wide Body). Additionally, it features morphing wings that reduce air resistance, allowing stable flight without fuselage shaking.

Cabin air is replaced with outside air every 2 to 3 minutes through HEPA filters. Humidity is improved by 5% compared to existing mid-to-large passenger aircraft, and cabin pressure is controlled not to exceed approximately 6,000 feet (about 1.8 km) altitude, enhancing comfort. Cabin noise is reduced by 4 to 6 dB.

The seating configuration consists of a total of 311 seats: 28 Prestige Class seats and 283 Economy Class seats. Prestige Class seats are arranged in a 1-2-1 staggered layout, allowing free access without interference from adjacent seats. Economy Class seats are arranged in a 3-3-3 layout with slim seats, providing a wide seat pitch.

Korean Air A350-900 Economy Class Interior. Provided by Korean Air

Korean Air stated that it has separately selected veteran flight crew to ensure the safe operation of the A350-900. These experts have extensive experience operating major Airbus models such as the A380, A330, A321, and large Boeing aircraft. Since July last year, they have received high-level training at Airbus's 'Asia Training Center (AATC)' in Singapore. Instructors were also trained to establish a foundation for independently nurturing A350 series flight crew in the future.

In addition, Korean Air plans to form a dedicated A350 maintenance team to ensure thorough maintenance. The team has undergone three training sessions approved by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), and from this year, they will train A350 maintenance technicians through a self-developed curriculum. Discussions are also underway regarding maintenance authority with the engine manufacturer.

Korean Air plans to sequentially introduce A350 series aircraft including the A350-900 and A350-1000. A Korean Air official said, "The A350-900 will contribute to realizing Korean Air's Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) management policy," adding, "We will actively respond to the recently increasing passenger demand and take preemptive measures in preparation for the post-merger with Asiana Airlines."