BRITISH Airways (BA) will launch six weekly flights between Seoul (Incheon) and London (Heathrow) on December 2, 2012.

The direct service will be operated using a Boeing 777-200ER aircraft with a four-class configuration – First and Club World business class with fully flat beds, World Traveller Plus premium economy, and World Traveller economy class.

BA's route launch to Seoul follows a recent announcement by parent company, International Airlines Group, of plans to expand its presence in Asia. BA last flew the Seoul-London route between 1996 and 1998.

Kevin McQuillan, BA regional general manager, East Asia, said: “Seoul is an important market for both tourism and business, and is the biggest origin and destination market in East Asia that we do not currently fly to.”

BA's flights from Seoul will land at Heathrow’s Terminal 5, which is exclusive to BA passengers and its sister airline, Iberia.