(KPL/Yonhap) Asiana Airlines Inc. said Monday it will align its aircraft seat numbering system with that of Korean Air Co. ahead of their planned integration later this year.

The carrier said the revised system will be applied to all domestic and international flights operating between Dec. 14 and 17, with full implementation set to begin Dec. 18.

Under the revisions, for all aircraft types except the A380, the starting row for business class will shift from Row 1 to Row 7, while economy class will begin at Row 28 instead of Row 10, a company spokesperson said.

For A380 aircraft, the starting row for economy class on the lower deck will move from Row 30 to Row 28, while other seating arrangements on both decks will remain unchanged.

"The changes affect only row numbering by aircraft type and class, with no physical changes to seat configurations," the spokesperson said.

Both carriers have said the unified Korean Air will launch next year after completing the merger process within this year. However, industry sources and the 2,500-member Korean Air Pilots Union said the company is internally targeting a Dec. 17 launch.

In late 2024, Korean Air completed a 1.8 trillion-won ($1.2 billion) acquisition of Asiana after securing approvals from antitrust regulators in 14 jurisdictions, including the European Union.

At the time, the flag carrier said it would absorb Asiana following a two-year post-merger integration (PMI) process. Its low-cost carrier unit, Jin Air Co., is set to absorb Asiana's budget affiliates, Air Seoul Inc. and Air Busan Co.

Asiana, Air Seoul and Air Busan Co. will no longer exist after the PMI program is finalized.

KPL