Due to low demand for expensive first class seats, which are synonymous with luxury service, domestic and foreign airlines flying between Korea and Europe have been reducing their first class offerings and instead increasing profitable business class seats.

An economy seat for a round-trip journey from Korea to Europe costs W1.6-1.7 million (US$1=W976), exclusive of tax, while a business class seat costs W4-5 million. A first class seat on the same flight costs W8-9 million on average, with some as expensive as W13 million.

Those high fares are one reason that half of the 10 to 12 first class seats on most such flights are usually empty. In contrast, demand for business class seats, which usually number between 50 to 60 per flight, is on the rise. Airlines are also rolling up their sleeves to attract business travelers with improved services such as bigger seats that recline into a near full bed position and better food.

An Asiana source said that European airlines have been competing to upgrade their business service recently, to the point where there's little difference in service between business and first class. Most carriers flying to North America still offer first class.

But Korean Air and Air France plan to continue offering first class service to maintain their image as top-level service providers, and for customer convenience. "We won't eliminate first class as long as there are customers who want first-class service regardless of the air fare," Korean Air said. "What's important is to expand options for customers by providing more types of seats and flexible flight schedules."

(englishnews@chosun.com )