Asiana Airlines will debut its new premium economy class when it launches its first Airbus A350 aircraft in May 2017

The new cabin, known as “Economy Smartium”, will become the first premium economy product offered by any Korean carrier.

The seats will provide 7-10cm of additional legroom compared with traditional economy class. Premium economy passengers will also be offered priority boarding, airport lounge access at Seoul’s Incheon International Airport and other in-flight services.

Asiana has ordered a total of 30 A350s, comprising eight smaller A350-800s, 12 standard A350-900s and 10 larger A350-1000s. The model arriving this year will be the A350-900, and the airline has now revealed that these aircraft will be configured with 311 seats – 28 in business class, 36 in premium economy and 247 in economy. No first class cabin will be offered on the A350s.

The first four aircraft are due to be delivered this year, with the full order scheduled to be completed by 2025.
The first new aircraft will be delivered to Asiana in April and initially deployed on regional routes connecting Seoul with Osaka and Manila from 15 May. Long-haul services to San Francisco and London will then be introduced in the second half of the year.

Asiana’s twin-aisle aircraft fleet also includes 15 A330s, five A380s and 11 Boeing 777s.