The year is 2023, and the flag carrier of one of the world’s most technologically advanced countries will finally be introducing inflight Wi-Fi — woot!
In this post:
Korean Air will launch Wi-Fi fleetwide
Korean Air has announced that it will start introducing inflight Wi-Fi shortly. This will initially be available on Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft as of June 1, 2023. The plan is then to expand Wi-Fi to other aircraft types, including Airbus A321neos and Boeing 787-9s, as of later dates.
The plan is to eventually offer Wi-Fi on all international routes, though a timeline hasn’t yet been shared for that becoming a reality. I’d expect it will be many years before all Korean Air jets feature this.
Korean Air has already announced its Wi-Fi pricing. The airline has messaging and streaming passes, and flights are priced based on one how far you’re traveling.
Here’s the pricing for Korean Air Wi-Fi:
- On long distance flights, messaging costs $5.95 for the entire flight, streaming costs $10.95 for two hours, and streaming costs $20.95 for the entire flight
- On mid distance flights, messaging costs $4.95 for the entire flight, streaming costs $10.95 for two hours, and streaming costs $13.95 for the entire flight
- On short distance flights, messaging costs $4.95 for the entire flight, and streaming costs $11.95 for the entire flight
Meanwhile here’s how Korean Air defines the different distances:
- Long distance flights include flights to the Americas, Oceania, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East
- Mid distance flights include flights to Southeast Asia and Central Asia
- Short distance flights include flights to Japan, China, and Northeast Asia
Why Korean Air hasn’t historically had Wi-Fi
So, why hasn’t Korean Air introduced inflight Wi-Fi until now? Back in 2016, Korean Air’s Senior Innovation Technology Officer was asked this exact question in an interview. Here’s how he answered it:
How do content and entertainment expectations change for people when they are traveling? I believe that passengers have similar expectations for in-flight and on-ground content and connectivity options. For example, in Korea, the wireless infrastructure is so advanced (significantly faster than the US average) that in-flight Internet services based on existing commercial satellite technology would be disappointing to them. That is a primary reason why Korean Air has not implemented in-flight Internet.
The explanation was essentially that Korean Air doesn’t offer inflight Wi-Fi because the speeds would be too disappointing to Koreans, who are otherwise used to cutting edge technology.
Bottom line
Korean Air will be introducing inflight Wi-Fi as of June 2023. This will initially be rolled out on Boeing 737 MAX 8s, and should eventually be extended to Korean Air’s entire international fleet, though the timeline remains to be seen. Korean Air will sell both messaging and streaming passes, with pricing starting at $4.95 for a messaging pass on a short haul flight, going all the way up to $20.95 for streaming on a long haul flight.
What do you make of Korean Air finally introducing inflight Wi-Fi?
Slow speed is better than no internt. This was the only thing about korean that i dont like aside from limited award tickets per flight.
Hello Brian,
Could you please share in more detail your experience?
I have a very important call to join during the time of my flight and I would like to know how plausible that is.
Thank you!
While they may be late to the Internet game this time around, Korean Air had in-flight internet back in 2001-2002. I did several long-itineraries with them as part of NorthWest's alliance, and I remember getting a one-day WiFi pass (it was Boeing's in-flight internet service) for about $25 and having it give me Internet all the way from Chicago to Seoul and then on to Aukland. Sadly, there was no in-flight power at the seats...
While they may be late to the Internet game this time around, Korean Air had in-flight internet back in 2001-2002. I did several long-itineraries with them as part of NorthWest's alliance, and I remember getting a one-day WiFi pass (it was Boeing's in-flight internet service) for about $25 and having it give me Internet all the way from Chicago to Seoul and then on to Aukland. Sadly, there was no in-flight power at the seats back then, so I only was able to use it for about 5 hours on each segment.
It's ironic how they supposedly have the "fastest" wifi which their citizens frequently slam to everyone's faces only to come up with this pathetic excuse after taking so long to install wifi
A rather elegant excuse of no wifi is better than slow wifi.
Something I actually agree. You'll be more frustrated with slow phone data than having no cell service at all.
But the real catch: the 737s are used for domestic flights and regional Asia flights….but it’s a true downgrade to be on one for their Asia flights, because 99% of their Asia regional flights are on big birds with excellent, spacious interiors……and the 737s are old school and have no IFE and less generous pitch.
So it’s not actually a “win” IMO
I think it is about managing people's expectations. It is kind of obvious that the in flight wifi will not be as superior. I think that this is nothing to brag about or make a big deal. They are following suit because basically they have no choice. Most top airlines these days have in flight wifi.
I forgot something important. A checkered safety record as well. I know they’re better now but you cannot deny that they were known to be bad for a long time in the past.
Both Korean Air and Taiwan's China Airlines had absolutely HORRID safety records in the '80s and '90s; many might remember that South Korea's own President called KE's safety record "an embarrassment to the nation" in public.
However both have significantly improved, with neither having had a mass-fatality in over 20yrs.
Like you, I have trouble shaking that recollection. However, I fear it may be somewhat prejudicial, as I've happily boarded Air France aircraft... yet what...
Both Korean Air and Taiwan's China Airlines had absolutely HORRID safety records in the '80s and '90s; many might remember that South Korea's own President called KE's safety record "an embarrassment to the nation" in public.
However both have significantly improved, with neither having had a mass-fatality in over 20yrs.
Like you, I have trouble shaking that recollection. However, I fear it may be somewhat prejudicial, as I've happily boarded Air France aircraft... yet what other Western carrier has had a half dozen hull losses over the past 25yrs, most of them fatal?
Even American Airlines, the airline who's killed more pax than any other, and is responsible for the last mass-fatality mainline crash in the USA--- can't claim THAT. :(
Maybe, just maybe, I can start taking Korean Air seriously again! Nut rage, terrible management, lack of WiFi, dumb (and even racially discriminatory) reason for lack of WiFi, terrible IFE selection, terrible lounges, and the inconsistent hard products on their fleet have really made that airline pretty unlikable to me. Even if everything else is great and probably still better than the US3, those things really hurt its reputation. I can’t imagine how they’d be...
Maybe, just maybe, I can start taking Korean Air seriously again! Nut rage, terrible management, lack of WiFi, dumb (and even racially discriminatory) reason for lack of WiFi, terrible IFE selection, terrible lounges, and the inconsistent hard products on their fleet have really made that airline pretty unlikable to me. Even if everything else is great and probably still better than the US3, those things really hurt its reputation. I can’t imagine how they’d be perceived by the outside world if it wasn’t for them cozying up with Delta. I wonder why Korean Air was not called out by human rights organizations for discriminating against non-Koreans with the reasoning behind their WiFi policy. It’s not like everyone who flies them is Korean like they seem to imply. Do they even have the right to judge what Koreans like or don’t like, especially as what is still a privately-owned company based in a democratic country? I hope the merger falls through. Long live ASIANA.
I think I've missed something - what is the racial discrimination aspect of the Wifi situation?
Korean Air says that they don't offer WiFi because "Koreans will find the WiFi speeds to be disappointing". I just feel like that justification is a bit prejudiced and they could be a bit more tolerant. By saying this, they are acting on a fallacy that everyone who flies them is Korean and fail to realize that it is not just Koreans who could be their customers. There are other races with other cultural values...
Korean Air says that they don't offer WiFi because "Koreans will find the WiFi speeds to be disappointing". I just feel like that justification is a bit prejudiced and they could be a bit more tolerant. By saying this, they are acting on a fallacy that everyone who flies them is Korean and fail to realize that it is not just Koreans who could be their customers. There are other races with other cultural values that may be taking their flights. This does not mean that flag carriers should not follow the cultural norms, it just means they should not use those cultural norms to make corporate decisions that explicitly single out other demographics of consumers. I am definitely glad they came around and plan to start offering Wi-Fi though. Now it's a matter of how long it will take before it makes it onto long haul flights.
This along with lackluster IFE selection and below-par outstation lounges has been Korean Air's main drawbacks. It's about damn time. Now if only award availability was as good as it was before...
No matter how you look at it, that's unusual not to have wi-fi.
I'm really not clear how that reasoning works:
:: Koreans boarding a long-haul flight::
[No Internet available]
:: Everyone celebrates because at least it's not slow ::
Also, how fast is this going to be now? Are we talking about gaming tournaments being held on planes because it's that good? :-|
Of course its after my 747 flight to HNL in may.The only reason I am flying with them is because of the plane. Hopefully there's a good movie or 2 in the system.
So hard to get excited about anything with Korean air after the Chase xfer policy fell through. Maybe one day will have the opportunity again...