News
Asiana takes delivery of first of 30 A350s
April 28th 2017
South Korea’s second largest carrier, Asiana Airlines, this week took delivery of its first A350-900, becoming the 12th carrier to operate Airbus’ latest XWB airliner. Read More »
Asiana’s A350-900 is configured with a three-class layout with a total of 311 seats, comprising 28 fully-flat beds in business class, 36 premium economy and 247 economy class seats.
The Kumho Group carrier has ordered 30 A350s – eight -800s, twelve -900s and ten -1000s.
The -800 has failed to meet its projected demand. At current, Asiana remains the sole customer for the smallest A350 variant after other airlines converted their orders to the A330neo.
As such, the -800 is unlikely to materialize. Speaking to FlightGlobal at the Asiana A350 delivery ceremony in Toulouse this week, Airbus executive vice-president of programmes, Didier Evrard, said Airbus was in discussions with Asiana on the demise of the -800.
"We are trying to discuss with the customer [Asiana] what is the best solution to fulfil the requirements of the -800," Evrard said. Options include adding to the Star Alliance member’s -900 backlog or converting the order to the A330neo, according to Evrard; for now the A350-800 is “on hold”.
To date, Airbus has recorded a total of 821 firm orders for the A350 XWB from 44 customers worldwide.
For the airline, the A350 marks the arrival of yet another Airbus aircraft type. Asiana operates A320s, A321s, A330s and it also has six A380s.
Premium economy is a new service class for Asiana, offering 3-4 inches of extra legroom, much like United Airlines’ ‘Economy Plus’ section.
Asiana’s long-haul premium economy passengers will be offered business class lounge access, upgraded in-flight amenities and priority boarding.
Asiana said A350 passengers booked in economy class can upgrade to premium economy for US$60 each way on flights from South Korea to Southeast and Southwest Asia or US$150 each way from its home base to the U.S., Europe or Australia.
The airline will roster the A350 on domestic hops and from Incheon to Osaka, Manila and Hong Kong for crew familiarization before deploying it daily to San Francisco and London in the second half, replacing the carrier’s ageing B777-200ERs
Asiana mended its bottom line in 2016 when it reversed a 139 billion won (US$122 million) 2015 loss to a 54 billion won profit last year, despite incurring damaging foreign exchange losses.
