KOREAN AIR is to acquire five Airbus A380-800 passenger aircraft (plus three options) in a deal announced at the Paris Air Show. With Korean Air”s selection, the Toulouse based company has now 129 orders and commitments from 11 customers for the A380 programme. Deliveries to Korean Air are scheduled to begin in late 2007 through 2009. Airbus” relationship with Korean Air dates back to 1974, when the airline became the manufacturers first customer outside Europe. Today, the carrier remains one of its largest customers in the region, having placed total firm orders for 51 wide-bodied types, comprising 32 A300s and 19 A330s. In a separate announcement Airbus announced a further A380 order from Emirates bringing its total requirement up to 45 aircraft. http://www.koreanair.com