Etihad Airways launches A380 on Incheon-Abu Dhabi route

From second from left, Robin Kamark, Etihad Airways chief commercial officer; UAE Ambassador to Korea Abdulla Saif Al Nuaimi; and Danny Barranger, Etihad's SVP Global Sales, cut a cake commemorating the launch of an A380 daily flight from Incheon to Abu Dhabi at the Shilla Hotel in Seoul, Tuesday. Courtesy of Etihad Airways

By Kim Hyun-bin

The United Arab Emirates' (UAE) flagship carrier Etihad Airways has deployed its Airbus A380 to Korea, which started daily flights between Incheon and Abu Dhabi, Wednesday.

“We are delighted to include Seoul as one of our most important destinations on the Etihad network with the increased capacity and flagship flying experience only the A380 can provide,” said Robin Kamark, chief commercial officer at Etihad Aviation Group. “The move will guarantee product consistency and more convenient travel options for more customers travelling to and from Korea.”

Currently, the airline operates the 486-seat A380s to a handful of destinations ― Incheon, Heathrow in London, Charles de Gaulle in Paris, JFK in New York and Sydney.

“This year also marks nine years of flying to Seoul, and we wish to express our heartfelt appreciation for the tremendous support and recognition we've received over the past years.”

To commemorate the launch, the carrier held an evening reception dubbed “Abu Dhabi Night” at The Shilla in Seoul, Tuesday, attended by government officials, diplomats and corporate partners here.

To promote cultural fusion between Emirati and Korean people, the event featured a series of performances by Arabic and Korean artists, while offering a tapestry of cuisines from both cultures.

The Residence

Etihad Airways differentiates its services by offering unique and more luxury travel for customers by providing four different cabin classes ― The Residence, First Apartment, Business Studio, and Economy Class.

The Residence is Etihad's most luxurious three-room cabin described as “the world's most luxurious living space in the air,” according to the airline.

The spacious area can accommodate two guests, giving complete privacy, equipped with a double bed and a 27-inch flat-screen TV.

The Residence

There is a private butler on standby to fulfill the guests' specific needs as well as an in-flight chef and VIP Travel Concierge Service.

When a little bored with the bedroom, there is a lounge with a reclining chair equipped with an in-seat massage, mini-bar and a 32-inch flat-screen TV.

First Apartments, Business Studio

The A380 is equipped with nine First Apartments, which is equivalent to the First Class cabin seats for other airlines. The reclining seat converts to an 80.5-inch-long and 30.3-inch-wide bed, along with electronic controls, in-seat massage and a 24-inch monitor. A shower room is also available for First Apartment passengers.

First Apartment

A total of 70 Business Studio seats are available onboard the A380, with 20 percent more room than regular business-class cabins, equipped with an 18-inch touch-screen TV and in-seat massage chair that converts to a flat bed.

The aircraft also has 405 economy seats, which includes 80 Economy Smart seats that are equivalent to Premium Economy for other carriers.

"Since launching our services to Seoul, Incheon in December 2010, the route has proved tremendously successful and we have welcomed over 1.2 million guests on our flights to and from Korea since then,” Ahn Jin-moon, Etihad's country manager Korea, said

Etihad Airways provides flights to over 80 destinations around the world and accommodates more than 200,000 Korean tourists annually.