Korea’s Air Premia adds to widebody fleet
December 22, 2024
Korean hybrid carrier Air Premia has added its sixth Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner to its fleet, marking its first fleet expansion in over 18 months.
Air Premia plans to add three more aircraft by the end of 2025, bringing its total fleet to nine.
The new Dreamliner, featuring a 344-seat layout, includes 35 premium economy seats with a spacious 46-inch pitch and 309 economy seats offering a 31-inch pitch.
As part of the airline’s enhancement plans, economy class seats across its fleet will soon provide an upgraded 33-inch pitch for added passenger comfort.
Currently undergoing final inspections and interior adjustments, the aircraft will begin commercial operations in January 2025, primarily serving long-haul routes to the Americas.
The Boeing 787-9 boasts cutting-edge technology, including a fuselage made of over 50% carbon composite materials, offering a 20% improvement in fuel efficiency compared to traditional passenger aircraft. With a range of over 15,000 km, it is well-suited for routes such as Seoul to New York, ensuring efficient long-haul operations.
Air Premia, Korea’s sole hybrid service carrier, already operates flights to Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Tokyo Narita, and Bangkok. The airline will launch new routes to Da Nang and Hong Kong in early 2025, followed by services to Honolulu and Seattle later in the year.
The fleet expansion and upcoming routes underline Air Premia’s strategy to cement its presence in key international markets.
“Fleet expansion is crucial for growth in the aviation industry,” said Seung-shin Park, head of public relations at Air Premia. “We are developing a balanced route portfolio to enhance both customer convenience and profitability.”
