Korean Air took delivery of its first B787-9 Dreamliner aircraft during a ceremony at Boeing’s South Carolina assembly site on Friday, February 24.
It is the first of ten Dreamliner’s the carrier has on order, with five scheduled to join the fleet this year and another five being added by 2019.
“The 787 Dreamliner will be a key member of Korean Air’s fleet as we continue to introduce next-generation airplanes to our customers,” said Walter Cho, president of Korean Air.
“The aircraft is fuel efficient, quiet, has lower operating costs and is spacious and very elegant. The cabin features are impressive and will ensure maximum comfort for Korean Air’s passengers.”
After crew familiarisation services between Seoul’s Gimpo Airport and Jeju, the new aircraft will be deployed on long-haul international routes to Toronto, Madrid and Zurich this year.
The aircraft will offer 269 seats in a three-class formation, with six seats in first, 18 in business and 245 economy seats.
“Korean Air continues to demonstrate its leadership in the global commercial airline industry and we are confident that the market-leading efficiency and comfort of the 787-9 Dreamliner will build onto their long-term success for many years to come,” said Rick Anderson, vice president of Northeast Asia sales, Boeing Commercial Airplanes.
