London Heathrow and Frankfurt were tipped to be the first European destinations for Korean Air’s A380.
But in the end, the Seoul-based carrier has plumped for Paris CDG with services expected to start as early as this September.
Korean Air has ordered ten superjumbos and will take delivery of five of them this year.
The first plane enters service on June 17. It will operate flights on regional routes out of Seoul to Tokyo Narita and Hong Kong. A service to Bangkok will follow in July.
But the big news is that Korean Air will operate the A380 to the US and Europe starting in August. New York will be its first A380 destination that month followed by Los Angeles in October.
The route linking Seoul with Paris CDG will commence in September with the exact date yet to be confirmed.
Paris CDG is a Skyteam hub and so is a logical gateway for Korean Air who, along with Air France, are both members of this alliance. Terminal 2, used by Air France and other Skyteam members, has the facilities for handling the A380.
As a result Korean Air passengers can rely on Air France to provide connections via CDG to destinations throughout the UK and mainland Europe.
It is of particular interest to UK passengers based in the regions. Right now if a Mancunian wishes to take Korean Air to Seoul he or she must fly into Heathrow’s Terminal 1 with Bmi or into Terminal 5 with BA. There is then a lengthy bus transfer to T4 on the other side of the airfield. But taking Air France into CDG’s Terminal 2 involves a relatively easy transfer within E Zone.
www.koreanair.com