Korean Air announced that it will begin operating two Airbus A350-900 on January 27.

The first aircraft will operate on the Seoul Incheon-Osaka route twice daily, while a second A350-900 will serve the Seoul Incheon-Fukuoka route once daily.

Korean Aair said it played a key role in developing the A350 aircraft.

"The aircraft's three cargo doors — forward, aft, and bulk — were designed and manufactured by Korean Air's Aerospace Division, demonstrating the company's advanced manufacturing capabilities," the announcement said.

[Source: Korean Air]

The A350-900 is a next-generation aircraft with superior fuel efficiency and reduced carbon emissions compared to similar aircraft and is expected to advance Korean Air's sustainability efforts.

Korean Air said adding the A350-900 to its fleet addresses growing passenger demand and will strengthen its fleet capacity as it continues its integration with Asiana Airlines.

Initially deployed on short-haul routes to Japan, the A350-900 will begin servicing Taipei in March and long-haul destinations, including Madrid and Rome, in the second half of the year.

The A350 has an operational range exceeding 12,000 kilometres; the aircraft can operate direct flights to all European destinations and most cities in North America.

The A350 introduces improvements in environmental performance and efficiency thanks to its carbon composite construction and the use of Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines. The airframe is made up of more than 50% carbon composite materials, which helps to lower weight and increase durability.

Notable features include morphing wings inspired by nature, designed to reduce air resistance during flight. 

Korean Air said it will continue expanding its fleet with A350-900 and A350-1000 variants.