Seattle is set to become the latest destination served by Asiana Airlines’ newest aircraft, the Airbus A350, bringing the carrier’s recently launched Economy Smartium class to the Seoul Incheon-Seattle route.
The A350 will take over the daily route from July 31 onwards, replacing the Boeing 777-200ER that currently flies between the two cities. The good news for travellers is that Asiana’s A350 features 28 Business Smartium seats – the same as the airline’s highest capacity B777. Asiana’s B777 has a total of five different configurations, which have between 22 and 28 business class seats.
Meanwhile for economy class travellers on the route, the deployment of the A350 means they will have access to the airline’s Economy Smartium class, which Asiana launched earlier this year on the aircraft. While this isn’t a premium economy offering – the seat product is exactly the same as in the economy cabin – it is a step up in terms of legroom, with 36 inches of pitch available. The class also includes features such as priority boarding and, for long-haul travellers, access to the Asiana Business Class Lounge at Incheon International Airport and in-flight amenities.
Seattle isn’t the only city getting the aircraft this year, though. London, which Asiana flies to daily, will see the A350 from February 7 onwards, while four of the airline’s twice-daily flights to Los Angeles will be getting the aircraft on April 30. The airline’s double-decker A380 superjumbo will continue to operate the other 10 weekly flights to Los Angeles.
These will join San Francisco, Hanoi and Fukuoka, which are all currently served by the new aircraft.
