Once approved, the two carriers plan to sell codeshare flights for travel beginning in April 2015. The new agreement will allow Korean Air SKYPASS members to earn miles when traveling on American-operated flights between DFW and ICN.
FORT WORTH, TEXAS – American Airlines and Korean Air have signed an agreement to begin codesharing. Pending regulatory approval, Korean Air will place its code on American Airlines flights between Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) and Incheon International Airport (ICN) in Seoul, South Korea.
“The new codeshare cooperation with Korean Air is an important milestone in growing our relationships with carriers around the globe to provide customers access to the destinations they value most,” said Kurt Stache, American’s senior vice president – Alliances and Partnerships. “This is the next step in strengthening our position in Asia, allowing us to win new customers in the region. We look forward to a strong relationship with Korean Air.“
“We look forward to a successful relationship with American Airlines,” said Yong Soon Park, Korean Air’s Senior Vice President of International Affairs and Alliance. “We are delighted with this partnership which will provide our customers with better access between Korea and the U.S. and to destinations throughout North, Central and South America.“
Once approved, the two carriers plan to sell codeshare flights for travel beginning in April 2015. The new agreement will allow Korean Air SKYPASS members to earn miles when traveling on American-operated flights between DFW and ICN.
American began serving Seoul in May 2013. Through American’s extensive network from Dallas/Fort Worth, customers traveling from South Korea have one-stop access to nearly 200 additional destinations throughout North America, the Caribbean and Latin America.
American’s route between DFW and Seoul is operated with a Boeing 777-200 aircraft. The airline is retrofitting all 47 of its 777-200s to refresh the cabins and enhance the premium experience on international flights. The retrofitted 777-200 features a Business Class product designed especially for American’s customers, with a fully lie-flat seat, direct aisle access and a private flying experience. The plane has a modern interior – including a walk-up bar – with unique lighting, a dramatic archway and a spacious look.
Korean Air revamps its Prestige Class with brand new ‘Prestige Suite’
Korean Air has long been made efforts to provide high-end luxury service to its premium customers. And today, Korean Air has revealed it has revamped prestige class equipped with new ‘Prestige Suites’ – taking inflight style in the prestige class cabin and premium customers’ comfort to a new level.
The new ‘Prestige Suites’, highlighting the comfort and privacy of its premium customers, will make their debut on a Korean Air A330-300 on the Guangzhou, Singapore and Hanoi routes. Korean Air has a further 38 aircraft on order – six A330-300s, twelve B777-300ERs, ten B747-8is and ten B787-9s – and all will be delivered equipped with the new seats.
Optimizing the space and offering privacy to provide passengers with maximum comfort
The new ‘Prestige Suite’ optimizes the allocated space to provide customers with the ultimate in comfort and space, whilst at the same time offering privacy if required.
The innovative armrest automatically slides down out of sight when the seat is in fully flat bed-mode and allows the seat to have an increased width of 22.5 inches, against the previous 21 inches.
Privacy panels are installed between the seats, with those in aisle seats able to rise higher for increased privacy. Each seat is also equipped with an ottoman, where passengers can rest their feet, or work colleagues or family members can sit to chat. These ottomans are more often seen in the first class cabins of other airlines.
The configuration of the seats has been designed to allow passengers by the window to be able to pass into the aisle without disturbing the aisle passenger. The pitch between the seats on the window side has increased by 12 inches to 87 inches from the previous configuration.
‘Smart’ inflight entertainment with ‘smartphone’ style handset providing a wide variety of content
The new ‘Prestige Suite’ is also equipped with a state-of-the-art inflight entertainment system. The handset features a touchpad that can be used as easily as a smart phone. Passengers simply touch the handset screen to choose from the menu, be it a movie, music, a game or information service.
Passengers can also watch the inflight airshow, with lots of flight information, such as, the location of the aircraft, at the same time as watching movies.
The Inflight entertainment system monitors have also been upgraded, now equipped with capacitive touch screen and superb resolution and expanded to 17 inches.
Looking to 2015, Korean Air plans to introduce a brand new first class, complimenting the new ‘Prestige’ class but taking spaciousness, stylish design and comfort to an even higher level. The new premium seats are a result of Korean Air’s effort to offer unparalleled customer services. The introduction of the new seats is on track in its quest to be a leading global carrier.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.