Korean Air preps premium economy launch

Korean Air is embarking on a premium travel push, with new business class suites and premium economy seats on the launchpad.

The former will debut on Korean Air’s factory-fresh Boeing 787-10 jets: the Prestige Class suites are expected to be wrapped by high walls and a sliding privacy door, and bristling with high-tech features.

However, despite earlier reports that premium economy would also be introduced on the 787-10, Executive Traveller can confirm the Dreamliner will sport a standard two-class configuration of business and economy.

Instead, the all-new premium economy seats will debut later this year as part of a ‘retrofit’ program on part of Korean Air’s existing fleet.

Executive Traveller understands the older Boeing 777-300ER jets are likely to be first in line, and will receive the new Prestige Class business class suites and economy seats of the 787-10 along with premium economy sandwiched between those two cabins.

The SkyTeam member already has 12 Boeing 787-9 aircraft in its fleet, but is slated to take delivery of eight more plus 20 of the higher-capacity 787-10s over the coming years, and this week signed on the dotted line for 33 Airbus A350 jets.

Expectations are that the Airbus A380 superjumbos of both Korean Air and Asiana Airlines, which is set to merge with Korean Air, will be retired within the next few years, with the Boeing 747-8 jets to follow by the start of the next decade.