Korean Air flights to soon offer in-flight internet options

Korean Air's Boeing 737-8 [KOREAN AIR]

Korean Air is set to introduce in-flight Wi-Fi services from June 1.

According to Korean Air on Tuesday, the rollout of the Wi-Fi service will begin on the Boeing 737-8 model, which operates on short-haul overseas routes, such as those to and from Osaka and Fukuoka. The national carrier plans to gradually expand the service to all of its international flights.

Passengers can access the in-flight portal page and pay for Wi-Fi upon boarding the plane.

Two usage plans are available: internet and messaging. The internet plan gives customers full internet access, while the messaging plan allows the exchange of text messages through apps that use the internet, like KakaoTalk, Line and WhatsApp.

Fees are categorized based on distance and time usage, with the Americas, Oceania, Europe, the Middle East and Africa categorized as long-distance; Southeast Asia and Central Asia as medium-distance; and Japan, China and Northeast Asia as short-distance. The long-distance usage fee is $20.95, while the medium-distance fee is $13.95 and the short-distance fee is $11.95. A two-hour usage plan is also available for both medium- and long-distance flights, priced at $10.95.

Asiana Airlines and Air Premia are currently the only domestic airlines that provide in-flight Wi-Fi services.

To mark the launch of the new service, Korean Air will be providing its messaging plan free of charge to passengers who board the service-providing aircraft from June to August.

BY SEO JI-EUN [seo.jieun1@joongang.co.kr]