Today, Korean Air announced that it will begin operating its first Boeing 787-10 on the Seoul to Bangkok route starting Thursday, August 1, 2024. This makes Thailand the first Southeast Asian country serviced by the airline’s 787-10 Dreamliner, which will replace one of the daily Boeing 777 flights.
New 787-10 Launching to Bangkok
Korean Air operates four daily flights between Seoul Incheon International (ICN) and Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK). Initially, the 787-10 will be utilized on six of the 28 weekly services, and on August 8, 2024, this will expand to 12 weekly flights on the 787-10. The aircraft designated for this service is the first Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner that arrived in South Korea in late July, registered as HL8515 with MSN 66878. It entered service on the Seoul to Tokyo Narita (NRT) route on July 25, operating a daily return flight.
Korean Air previously announced that the 787-10s would first be deployed on short-haul routes to stabilize operations before introducing them on longer routes to the western United States and Europe. The decision to utilize the 787-10 on the Bangkok route comes in response to increasing demand. Korean Air Thailand Country Manager Jong Min Kim emphasized that Thailand is a crucial market for the airline, stating:
“Many Korean companies are investing and conducting business in Thailand, increasing demand for business travel. With 13 gateways in North America and 12 in Japan via Seoul Incheon Terminal 2, Korean Air is committed to serving Thailand through our extensive global network.”
On Thursday, Korean Air flight KE651, using the 787-10 Dreamliner, will depart Seoul Incheon at 18:05 and arrive in Bangkok approximately five hours later at 21:45. The return flight will depart Suvarnabhumi Airport at 23:30 and land in Seoul at 06:55 the following day.
A Comfortable Flight Experience
The 787-10 features a cabin layout of 325 seats split between two classes: 36 in business class and 289 in economy. It is the first aircraft to be equipped with Korean Air’s new business class product, Prestige Suites 2.0, which includes lie-flat seats that offer 46 inches (117 cm) of pitch, 21 inches (53 cm) in width, and an extended length of 78 inches (198 cm).
The suites are designed to provide independent spaces that enhance openness while ensuring privacy. They also include expanded personal space next to the armrest with a table for drinks and personal items, a personal storage compartment, a wireless phone charger, dual 220V/110V outlets, and two high-speed USB-C ports.
In the main cabin, economy class seats are arranged in a 3-3-3 configuration featuring vibrant woven patterns in bold colors. They offer a pitch of 32 inches (81 cm), a width of 17.2 inches, and can recline up to 120 degrees. The headrests are adjustable in multiple directions for added comfort.
The monitors in both classes support 4K resolution. Business class passengers will enjoy 24-inch (60 cm) screens with Bluetooth audio support, while economy class features 13-inch (33 cm) monitors, which are two inches (5 cm) larger than those on other models. In-flight Wi-Fi service will also be available.
According to Thailand’s tourism ministry, South Korean visitors were the third-largest group of arrivals in Thailand in 2023, totaling over 1.65 million. Between January and April of this year, 119,455 visitors from Thailand traveled to South Korea, accounting for 2.5% of total arrivals in the country.
