Asiana Airlines to operate A380 in 2014

The Korea Times

The Korea Times

National

Sat, September 30, 2023 | 07:37

Asiana Airlines to operate A380 in 2014

Posted : 2011-01-06 19:20

Updated : 2011-01-06 19:20

Asiana Airlines said Thursday that it will add a total of six A380 airplanes, dubbed “flying hotels in the sky,” to its fleet between 2014 and 2017 at a 2.04 trillion won investment.

Asiana Airlines plans to add a total of six A380 airplanes to its fleet.

By Lee Hyo-sik

Asiana Airlines said Thursday that it will add a total of six A380 airplanes, dubbed “flying hotels in the sky,” to its fleet between 2014 and 2017 at a 2.04 trillion won investment.

One of the two flagship carriers in Korea plans to operate the jumbo airliners on its long-distance routes linking Incheon and cities in North America and Europe. The A380 is a double-decker, four-engine airplane that can accommodate up to 853 passengers.

Asiana Airlines CEO Yoon Young-doo said the company decided to add the A380 to its fleet in order to meet soaring air cargo and passenger demand for long-distance routes between Korea and the U.S. and Europe.

“We achieved remarkable growth in 2010. To perform at an even fast pace this year and beyond, we need to nurture a new growth engine. We think the introduction of the A380 will modernize our fleet and significantly bolster our international profile,” Yoon said.

Asiana currently operates a fleet of 74 aircraft — 35 Airbus and 39 Boeing planes. Its larger rival, Korean Air, is slated to put its first A380 aircraft into operation in May and plans to purchase nine additional ones by 2014.

leehs@koreatimes.co.kr