Korean Air is fully re-evaluating its plan to change the existing '3-3-3' economy seat configuration to a '3-4-3' structure. With the change in seating arrangement, the space on both sides will narrow, leading to criticisms of 'cage seating,' and as the Fair Trade Commission indicated it would look into its appropriateness, the airline appears to be backing down.
According to Korean Air on the 5th, the cabin environment improvements planned for the Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, which were scheduled to be deployed on medium- to short-haul routes this month, have undergone a full review. Last month, Korean Air announced it would introduce premium seating, which is a grade between economy and business class, on 11 of these aircraft and change the economy seat layout from the existing 3-3-3 configuration to a 3-4-3 arrangement.
Korean Air has installed premium seats on one of the 11 aircraft and has completed the arrangement of economy seats into a 3-4-3 configuration. It is reported that the remaining 10 aircraft will adopt premium seating, but the economy seats are likely to remain in the original 3-3-3 arrangement. A Korean Air representative noted, "The modification of seats on the remaining 10 aircraft is under careful internal review, taking various consumer opinions into account."
Public opinion rapidly deteriorated after Korean Air announced it would introduce premium seats and change the economy seating arrangement. If the economy seat arrangement changes from 3-3-3 to 3-4-3, the width on both sides will decrease by 1 inch (2.54 cm). This change would allow Korean Air to increase the total number of seats per aircraft from the current 291 to 328.
There are also consumer complaints regarding the premium seats that prompted the change in the economy seat configuration. Korean Air stated that premium seats are 10% more expensive than economy seats and 1.5 times wider, but in reality, the area of premium seats is reported to be about 1.3 times wider than that of economy seats. Prices are also said to be over 10% higher than economy seats. Korean Air noted that prices vary depending on the date and boarding time.
The Fair Trade Commission is also keeping a close eye on the Korean Air seating controversy. Joo Byeong-gi, a candidate for the Fair Trade Commission chair, said on the 3rd, regarding the reduction in economy seat width while introducing premium seats, "I will look into various issues that raise concerns not only about seat reduction but also about decreased consumer welfare."
In exchange for approval of the merger with Asiana Airlines, Korean Air must maintain a certain level of seat numbers and prices compared to those in 2019. This applies to 40 routes with monopoly concerns. Korean Air has indicated that aircraft with changed seating arrangements will not be deployed on these 40 routes. A Fair Trade Commission official said, "We are closely monitoring whether these aircraft will be deployed on the 40 routes."