Korean Air received its first Airbus 321neo equipped with fully lie-flat seats in business class, making it the first Korean airline to offer this feature on a narrowbody aircraft. The aircraft is a single-aisle narrowbody with a configuration of 182 seats. The aircraft is powered by the Pratt & Whitney GTF engine and is the first of up to 50 A321neo aircraft for which the airline selected GTF engines in 2020. In 2021, Korean Air joined the Pratt & Whitney GTF MRO network, providing disassembly, assembly, and test capabilities for GTF engines for the A320neo family.
The airline plans to deploy the aircraft starting in December 2022 mostly on short-haul routes, including Southeast Asia, China, and Japan.
Soo Keun Lee, Executive Vice President and Chief Safety & Operation Officer of Korean Air, said: “We are delighted to receive our first A321neo, which will be a great asset to our fleet, network, and passengers. This fuel-efficient, next-generation A321neo will bring our customers’ experience to a new level with the award-winning Airspace cabin and fully lie-flat business class seats.”
Christian Scherer, Airbus Chief Commercial Officer and Head of Airbus International, said: “By adding the A321neo to its fleet, Korean Air will benefit from enhanced operational efficiency and the highest levels of in-flight comfort. With the A321neo’s per-seat fuel improvements of at least 25% compared with Korean Air’s previous generation same-sized fleet, the airline will reduce its operating costs significantly, as well as emissions at the same time.”
Rick Deurloo, president of Commercial Engines at Pratt & Whitney, added: “Korean Air becomes the fifth airline to operate two different fleets of GTF-powered aircraft. Pratt & Whitney is uniquely positioned to power airlines’ needs across the latest single-aisle fleets, with GTF engines powering aircraft that carry 96 to 244 passengers and fly up to 4,700 nautical miles.”
“The A321neo will present a pleasurable flight experience for short-haul travelers by providing inflight internet, a sophisticated cabin interior, and advanced personal inflight entertainment systems,” the airline said.
Korean Air will offer a total of 182 seats, eight in Prestige class and 174 in economy class on its new model. For the first time, 180-degree flat-bed seats will be available in the Prestige class of the airline’s narrowbody fleet.
Introducing the A321neo is part of the airline’s fleet modernization plans. The airline is slated to receive a total of 30 Airbus 321neo aircraft by 2027.