Emirates Airlines' super jumbo A380, right, and a two-seat aircraft, in the 1930 / Courtesy of Emirates Airlines

By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter

The five-star hotel in the sky ― the A380 super jumbo jet ― will fly in the Korean sky starting this year, with two carriers planning to adopt the aircraft.

Korean Air has recently decided to adopt two more A380s in addition to its earlier order of eight, which will be delivered from the end of 2010 to 2013, while the additional two will come in May and June 2014.

The double-decker consumes 15 percent less fuel than current ones by reducing weight with composite materials, increasing engine efficiency. It is also an environmentally friendly aircraft that emits 20 percent less carbon dioxide.

Korean Air's A380 will have roughly 530 seats, a lounge and a duty free shop. The exact number of seats and other in-flight facilities has not been determined yet.

``The additional order shows Korean Air's strong will to become a leading carrier in the global aviation market. From next year, passengers will be able to experience high quality services exceeding expectations,'' a Korean Air official said.

The airline will put the aircrafts on the routes to Los Angeles, New York and Paris.

Korean Air is one of two carriers in Northeast Asia to have ordered the next-generation A380, with China Southern Airlines being the other.

The super jumbo jet is currently operated by Singapore Airlines, Emirates Airlines and Quantas Airways.

Emirates last week announced that it would use one of its A380s for the Seoul-Dubai route starting in November. Consequently, Emirates' plane will be the first A380 operating here. It will also be the carrier's first operation of the aircraft in Northeast Asia. It now flies them to London, New York, Sydney and Auckland.

Emirates' A380s has two shower rooms for first class passengers. Other facilities include a lounge, a bar, seats with a massage function and in-flight entertainment programs with more than 1,000 channels.

The airline has decided to adopt the super jumbo jet as the number of travelers between the two nations is rapidly growing ― in 2004, the figure was 37,000, but since the carrier started operation in 2005 it now reaches 260,000 per year.

Incheon International Airport prepared special boarding bridges for the double-decker, along with the airport expansion project last June, at a cost of $4 billion.

rahnita@koreatimes.co.kr