In the coming weeks, Korean Air will be introducing a premium economy product for the first time. The carrier has now revealed details about its premium economy experience, including the seat, amenities, and more.
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Korean Air will offer premium economy on Boeing 777
Korean Air plans to introduce a premium economy product in the near future. Specifically, the first aircraft with the new cabin is expected to fly as of mid-September 2025, initially on short and medium haul flights from Seoul Incheon (ICN).
Here’s what we can expect in terms of the planes on which the product will be offered:
- The airline plans to install premium economy on 11 of its 25 Boeing 777-300ERs
- The airline then plans to install premium economy on some Airbus A350-900s, though Korean Air is currently taking delivery of these planes without premium economy
- The airline plans to install premium economy on Boeing 777-9s, if/when they’re delivered
- Korean Air no longer plans to introduce premium economy on Boeing 787s, including the 787-10s currently being delivered
The expectation is that the new premium economy will debut on the reconfigured 777-300ERs, and it’s interesting to hear what the airline has planned:
- These 11 777-300ERs will also get the carrier’s new business class, which debuted on the 787-10
- When premium economy is installed on these planes, the first class cabin will be removed (which consists of eight seats, spread across two rows, in a 1-2-1 configuration), and it’s also expected that economy will move to a 3-4-3 layout (from the current 3-3-3 layout)
It’s interesting to see how Korean Air is introducing premium economy, but isn’t going all-in, and introducing it on all long haul planes. After all, it can be tricky to sell premium economy to passengers when it’s only available on part of a journey. You don’t want to book a long haul journey only to end up in premium economy on one segment.
Korean Air’s strategy seems a bit all over the place, if you ask me. For example, logically you’d think that the routes that have demand for first class would also have demand for premium economy (since they’re for markets where there’s more of a willingness to pay), so it’s odd that 777s will either have premium economy or first class, but not both.
Similarly, Korean Air plans to introduce a new first class and even expand its first class footprint in the long run, but for the time being, the airline will further reduce its first class footprint.
Details of Korean Air’s new premium economy experience
For the first time, Korean Air has revealed what we can expect from the carrier’s premium economy product. As you’d expect, premium economy is positioned between business class and economy in terms of comfort level.
On Boeing 777-300ERs, the premium economy cabin will consist of 40 seats, spread across five rows, in a 2-4-2 configuration. Premium economy will feature roughly 50% more space than the existing economy class, with 39-41″ of pitch, which is an industry leading premium economy product in terms of spaciousness.
Seats will be 19.5″ wide, recline up to 130 degrees, and come equipped with both leg and footrests. The seats will also feature ergonomic headrests for gentle support, and include wing-shaped sides to provide a greater sense of privacy. Seats will boast 15.6″ 4K screens, larger than the previous business class monitors on the same aircraft.
On long haul routes, premium economy passengers will receive a single-tray meal service, with a main course, appetizer, and dessert, from the business class menu, served on Armani / Casa tableware. Beverages, including wine, coffee, and tea, are the same as those served in business class.
Premium economy passengers will also get priority ground services, including access to Morning Calm check-in counters, priority baggage handling, and Sky Priority boarding.
The product sounds great in terms of comfort, but why is Korean Air so boring when it comes to cabin finishes? Like, could you pick a more generic-looking cabin? I suppose the colors are less controversial than Korean Air’s old shade of blue, but that’s about the only good thing I can say…
The varying takes on premium economy
It’s funny how airline industry executives have varying opinions on the merits of a premium economy cabin.
Among many, the common wisdom is that premium economy is the most efficient use of real estate on a plane, it represents the future, and it’s incredibly lucrative for airlines. But not all airline executives agree, or at a minimum, many airlines have hesitated to introduce this product.
Yes, a lot of airlines have added premium economy, and it has been the fastest growing cabin concept in the world. But it seems like it’s most popular across the Atlantic and Pacific, on airlines from North America, Europe, and select places in North and Southeast Asia.
At the same time, Etihad and Qatar Airways haven’t embraced premium economy, and Emirates only recently started rolling it out, years after other airlines. And then you have some airlines, like Turkish Airlines, which actually removed premium economy from their planes, as the economics weren’t working for them.
Obviously premium economy is largely targeted at premium leisure travelers, so I suppose it’s just a function of some markets having a sizable number of travelers who can’t quite justify booking business class, while also being willing to pay for something better than economy.
Bottom line
Korean Air will be introducing a premium economy cabin as of mid-September 2025, with the product expected to debut on reconfigured 777-300ERs. Oddly, these planes will have first class removed at the same time that premium economy is installed, and then they’ll also get a new business class product.
Korean Air’s new premium economy looks great, and should be among the most spacious out there, with 39-41″ of pitch. The soft product also sounds quite good, with business class food and wine.
What do you make of Korean Air introducing premium economy?
This makes sense I think because many people won't justify the cost of business or first if you have to pay cash but could justify premium economy over economy. Also, I wonder how many flights had first class empty or at least not full.
When it comes to first class, I feel like they’re holding off on upgrading the product and are removing seats for now because they can’t fully guarantee the first class experience on the ground. After all, they’re closing both current prestige class lounges and the first lounge in Incheon after the two new prestige lounges are completed, and renovating those ones as well. I think removing first class temporarily is honestly a pretty alright future...
When it comes to first class, I feel like they’re holding off on upgrading the product and are removing seats for now because they can’t fully guarantee the first class experience on the ground. After all, they’re closing both current prestige class lounges and the first lounge in Incheon after the two new prestige lounges are completed, and renovating those ones as well. I think removing first class temporarily is honestly a pretty alright future proofing move from KE for now, considering their really lacking first class experience before.
TK took out their premium economy because it was such a great value and product that it cannibalized their business class. I remember seeing the cabin when I was working at JFK and it was very impressive, much better than the PE now on most planes. Everyone raved about it.
Not sure how anyone gets Korean miles
Korean was one of the few remaining 777 operators who still had 3-3-3 Y. Since the "standard" 777 (and 350) PE is 2-4-2, one wonders if the move to 3-4-3 Y is, in part, a reflection that 8 abreast PE looks weaker next to 9 abreast Y. Btw, I've never been in PE, but find the 787 more appealing in that it is 2-3-2.
Premium Economy is an overpriced overvalued with little extra benefits that is at best 20% more premium but cost insanely more.
That's why "it represents the future, and it’s incredibly lucrative for airlines."
People overpay too much for such a modest upgrade. Airlines love it.
"Obviously premium economy is largely targeted at premium leisure travelers,"
Or the cheap business travelers.
business class seats are aggressively discounted to win corporate discounts. PE seats take up far less real estate and do provide a level of comfort that is tolerable for many people on long flights; economy seats - even extra legroom economy - just don't recline enough and are too narrow. Most people can sleep w/o being fully reclined.
Premium economy is what business class was 30 years ago.
Premium economy will eventually take over business class as well. 40 yrs from now. Remember when passengers used to have seats that turned into beds and took up the space of 8 seats and airlines didn’t mane any money ?
I remember a time when seats have doors and airlines made crazy money.
Premium Economy will take over because competition will make this lie flat and would cost almost as much as business class.
Business will need more amenities and would cost almost as much as First.
In 40 years, you'll end up with the same product with similar price just with a different name.
The bigger news here is that economy gets much worse with the reconfiguration. The 3-3-3 layout with a good pitch is quite comfortable in economy. I flew it on Asiana as well and it such a difference to 3-4-3 with a tighter seat pitch - it almost felt like premium economy. I don't think it is a coincidence that the economy cabin gets worse since the competition with Asiana is gone. Of cause, a worse...
The bigger news here is that economy gets much worse with the reconfiguration. The 3-3-3 layout with a good pitch is quite comfortable in economy. I flew it on Asiana as well and it such a difference to 3-4-3 with a tighter seat pitch - it almost felt like premium economy. I don't think it is a coincidence that the economy cabin gets worse since the competition with Asiana is gone. Of cause, a worse economy cabin will entice wealthier travelers to buy up to premium economy.
Philippine Airlines and ANA have 33" and 34" respectively in economy on their 777s which also 10ab, so I can see them maintaining 33" of pitch. Worse case scenario would be 32" which is industry standard which you'll find on someone like CX.
Interesting to see if Korean’s seat width will be decreased from 18” to 17” like ANA when they introduce 2-4-2 abreast seating. This will surely leave JAL as the most generous economy seating of 33-34” x 18” of all airlines.
DL has been feeding KE data on how well Delta Premium Select does for years. KE is not only receiving its own new orders but is taking over Asiana's orders and converting their own existing aircraft. Their fleet will be in transition for years.
Premium economy makes the most sense on the longest haul aircraft. ICN is growing more and more to be the best and largest connecting hub in Asia. Premium economy has to...
DL has been feeding KE data on how well Delta Premium Select does for years. KE is not only receiving its own new orders but is taking over Asiana's orders and converting their own existing aircraft. Their fleet will be in transition for years.
Premium economy makes the most sense on the longest haul aircraft. ICN is growing more and more to be the best and largest connecting hub in Asia. Premium economy has to reflect the needs of all of of the DL-KE TPAC network and where they are starting w/ fleet conversions makes the most sense.
I know you mentioned potentially doing some premium economy long haul reviews now that you're flying with children. Would love to see those sometime soon!
As long as Premium Economy is available on long haul flight, I feel Korean will fill the seats.
Just flew UA Premium Economy TATL, all 24 seats were full east bound and only 3 empty seats on return. Mostly a 40+ yr old crowd who have paid their dues sitting in economy all those years; now time to reward themselves. For the domestic legs, we sat Economy Plus (extra leg room).
I understand...
As long as Premium Economy is available on long haul flight, I feel Korean will fill the seats.
Just flew UA Premium Economy TATL, all 24 seats were full east bound and only 3 empty seats on return. Mostly a 40+ yr old crowd who have paid their dues sitting in economy all those years; now time to reward themselves. For the domestic legs, we sat Economy Plus (extra leg room).
I understand PAX get prissy about the wine and meat sauce as they sit further to the front of the plane, but it hit the spot....no complaints!
I recently did DOH to PHL on American premium and it was great for 14hrs trip.
The colours honestly look drab and sterile. Why does it have to be just black and white, especially from a country full of colour?!
Someone put tariffs on colors.