Korean Air Introduces Premium Class on Retrofitted Boeing 777-300ER Aircraft
- Joe Breitfeller
- Aug 6, 2025
- 2 min read
Korean Air is introducing Premium Class on their newly refreshed Boeing 777-300ER fleet. The first retrofitted aircraft will be deployed on short and medium-haul routes from mid-September 2026.
On Tuesday (August 5, 2025), Korean Air announced the introduction of Premium Class on their newly retrofitted Boeing 777-300ER fleet, with the first flights launching on short and medium-haul routes starting from mid-September 2026. Korean Air has invested around KRW 300 billion (US $216 million) to fully retrofit 11 Boeing 777-300ER aircraft with completely redesigned cabins, bringing them in line with the airline’s latest aircraft interiors and onboard technology offerings. Korean Air’s new Premium Class is positioned between the airline’s Prestige (Business) and Economy Class, offering more spacious seating and upgraded service. While pricing varies by route and travel dates, fares are generally around 110 percent of standard Economy fares.
In Tuesday’s announcement, a Korean Air spokesperson, said,
“We’re committed to bringing the fully redesigned Boeing 777-300ER and new Premium Class to as many customers as possible. This fleet upgrade has been in progress since 2018 and, after delays due to the pandemic, we’re proud to now offer an elevated travel experience that meets our passengers’ evolving needs.”
The new Premium Class cabin features 40 seats in a 2-4-2 layout, offering approximately 50 percent more space than existing Economy Class seats. The seats offer a generous pitch of 39 to 41 inches, and are 19.5 inches wide, offering more space than many premium economy products offered by other major global airlines. Additionally, the Premium Class seats recline up to 130 degrees, and come equipped with both leg and footrests, as well as ergonomic headrests. Guests can also enjoy an enhanced IFE experience with 15.6-inch 4K resolution screens.
Premium Class guests onboard international flights will enjoy a refined single-tray meal service, including a main course, appetizer, and dessert from the Prestige (Business) Class menu, all served on Armani/Casa tableware. Beverages, including wine, coffee, and tea, are the same as those served in Prestige Class. Premium customers will also benefit from priority ground services, including access to Morning Calm check-in counters, priority baggage handling and Sky Priority boarding.
The launch of Korean Air’s new Premium Class coincides with a complete interior retrofit of the carrier’s Boeing 777-300ER fleet. Inspired by the design of Korean Air’s latest aircraft, the updated cabins offer a refreshed, modern experience across all cabins. The aircraft also feature Korean Air’s newest seating products including ‘Prestige Suites 2.0’ in a 1-2-1 configuration for Prestige Class, and ‘New Economy’ in a 3-4-3 layout. Additionally, Wi-Fi is available across all cabins, and IFE systems have been upgraded.
Source: Korean Air
