Monday, January 27, 2025 Korean Air launches its first Airbus A350-900s on short-haul routes, with plans to expand to European destinations like Madrid and Rome by late 2025. Korean Air has commenced commercial operations with its first two Airbus A350-900 aircraft, marking a significant step in the airline’s fleet modernization efforts. These aircraft have been introduced on short-haul routes, initially serving high-demand regional destinations.
The two A350s, the first from an order of 33, now operate twice-daily flights between Seoul Incheon and Osaka, as well as Seoul Incheon and Fukuoka. Korean Air plans to expand their deployment to Taipei starting in March. By the second half of the year, these jets will operate long-haul routes to European cities, including Madrid and Rome.
In March 2024, Korean Air announced its intention to order the A350 and finalized the deal within a month. The purchase includes six A350-900s and 27 A350-1000s. This order reinforces the airline’s commitment to fleet renewal and efficiency as it gradually introduces more fuel-efficient aircraft.
The A350-900s are configured in a two-class layout, accommodating 311 passengers with 28 seats in business class and 283 in economy. Details about the seating configuration for the larger A350-1000 models have yet to be disclosed. These new aircraft are expected to replace older widebody models in Korean Air’s fleet.
Currently, the airline operates Boeing 777s, 747s, 787s, as well as Airbus A330s and.
