Korean Air launches new Airbus A350-900 service from Seoul-Incheon

The Airbus A350-900 is designed for long-haul travel but can efficiently operate on regional routes due to its advanced design features like carbon composite materials and Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines. This aircraft offers improved passenger comfort with quieter cabins and higher cabin pressure.

Configured with 28 Prestige Class seats and 283 economy class seats, Korean Air's A350-900 provides various amenities including fully-flat beds in Prestige Class and enhanced seating arrangements in Economy Class.

Korean Air operates several other aircraft types on its Japanese routes, including Boeing 787 Dreamliners, Boeing 737 family jets, Boeing 777-300ERs, Airbus A330-300s, and Airbus A321neos. Other South Korean airlines such as Asiana Airlines, T'way Air, Jin Air, Jeju Air, Air Busan, Air Seoul, and Eastar Jet also serve these routes. However, no Japanese airlines are currently operating between Seoul-Incheon and Fukuoka; only Peach operates between Seoul-Incheon and Osaka-Kansai.

The dominance of South Korean airlines on these routes may be influenced by historical tensions between South Korea and Japan or competitive dynamics within the airline industry. Notably, Japan Airlines maintains a codeshare agreement with Korean Air.

Korean Air is expanding its fleet significantly through acquisitions from its merger with Asiana Airlines alongside new orders for various Airbus models. While it initially planned to retire its Airbus A380 Superjumbos by 2026 due to efficiency concerns compared to newer twin-engined models like the A350s or Boeing 787s/777s series planes - recent reports suggest potential delays in retirement amid global production constraints faced by major manufacturers such as Boeing & Airbus themselves which affects supply chain logistics worldwide across industries alike!