by
4. July 2011 10:03
South Korea’s largest airline Korean Air recently took the delivery of its first Airbus A380, and operated special flights on June 16, 2011.
Korean Air has become the first airline in Northeast Asia to acquire Airbus A380. It has also become the 6th airline in the world to deploy A380 on international routes.
The jumbo passenger jet A380 is configured with full business class upper deck.
Korean Air conducted special demonstration flights a day before the launching of regular international service beginning June 17, 2011.
The first special demonstration flight touched down at Incheon International Airport in the west of Seoul after flying across east of South Korea and over the ocean. The flight presented an amazing sight as it passed low near Dokdo islets, situated in the waters between Japan and South Korea, before making its return.
Cho Yang-ho, Chairman and CEO of Korean Air, said that the airline is committed to providing quality services to its customers, and has demonstrated its commitment by launching Airbus A380 on international routes. The launch of the flights is yet another step on part of the airline to show to the customers the recently-acquired efficient and comfortable airplanes.
Cho also highlighted the special and unique configuration made in the upper deck of Airbus A380, which is exclusively dedicated to business class seats. He said that with such a configuration the Korean Air has become the first airline in the world to make effective and best use of A380 in such as manner.
Korean Air deployed its Airbus A380 on international routes beginning roundtrip flights from Seoul Incheon to Tokyo, and later on from Seoul Incheon-Hong Kong on the same day, June 17, 2011.
The airline also said in a statement that it will begin flight services to Bangkok in July this year. Besides, the airline also plans to start flight services to New York, Paris and Los Angeles in August, September and October respectively.
Besides Korean Air, at present Air France, Lufthansa, Emirates, Singapore Airlines and Qantas are also operating flight services utilizing the Airbus A380.
