Korean Air’s first flight using an Airbus A380 will be between Seoul’s Incheon airport and Tokyo Narita, on June 1.
After the plane returns from Tokyo to Seoul, it will depart for Hong Kong.
The airline will take delivery of its first A380 in May, configured with 407 seats: 12 first class, 301 economy and 94 Prestige Class (business class).
Korean Air has opted to reserve the upper deck of the two-storey aircraft for business class passengers, the first airline to do so.
Jae Ho Kim, managing vice president and director of Korean Air Europe headquarters, said it will mean business flyers “feel exclusivity like they’re traveling in their own private jet”.
The airline’s second A380 will be delivered in time to start flying the Seoul-Bangkok route in July, with a third aircraft due in August to fly between Seoul and New York.
By the end of the year, Korean Air will have taken delivery of five of the superjumbos. The fourth will ply the Seoul-Los Angeles route from October, while the fifth’s destination has yet to be announced.
The airline has ordered a total of 10 A380s – the remaining five will be delivered by 2014.
www.koreanair.com