Korean Air has announced the introduction of premium economy on 11 retrofitted Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. The airline is calling these product Premium Class
Korean Air is a rare airline in East Asia that has yet to introduce a premium economy product on its long-haul fleet. Airlines nearby in Japan, China, and Hong Kong have all embraced the cabin class for a while now, yet Korean Air (and Asiana) hasn’t. Carriers in the Middle East, such as Etihad and Qatar, come to mind when I think of airlines without premium economy, but considering how popular it has been back in East Asia, I’m surprised it took Korean Air this long to introduce it.
Additionally, these premium economy seats will replace first class. I find this a little puzzling, as the airline is reportedly working on a new first class product, and the 777 is one of the aircraft types to receive the product.
The new Premium Class will come in a 2-4-2 configuration, which is standard for the Boeing 777. There will be 5 rows of these seats, totaling 40.
The seats themselves will be:
- Seat pitch: 39 to 41 in (99 to 104cm)
- Seat width: 19.5 in (49cm)
This puts the airline on par with other neighboring East Asian carriers. The seat pitch is quite impressive; most other airlines in the region have a pitch of 38 inches. Japan Airlines is the only airline I can think of at the moment that has a larger seat pitch. They offer 42 inches in the cabin class.
Passengers will find a 15 inch, 4K IFE screen when seated. Premium class will also offer “…a refined single-tray meal service, including a main course dish, appetizer, and dessert from the Prestige Class menu, served on Armani/Casa tableware.” Based on this, it sounds like meals will be closer to Prestige Class (business class) than economy, which is a nice perk. Airlines tend to be split with premium economy meals, with some just offering identical economy class meals.
Premium Class passengers will also receive priority benefits on the ground.
“We’re committed to bringing the fully redesigned Boeing 777-300ER and new Premium Class to as many customers as possible,” said a Korean Air representative. “This fleet upgrade has been in progress since 2018 and, after delays due to the pandemic, we’re proud to now offer an elevated travel experience that meets our passengers’ evolving needs.”
All photos by Korean Air.
