Korean Air will launch its first A380 service in May 2011 with the entire upper deck of the aircraft devoted to business class flyers.
The unique configuration of the two-story A380 aircraft will allow Korean Air business flyers "to feel exclusivity like they're traveling in their own private jet," says Senior Vice President and head of the Passenger Business Division of Korean Air Walter Cho. He added "this innovative approach to dedicate an entire floor for a single class will be benchmarked by other airlines."
Korean Air's business seating, called Prestige Class, will have 94 lie-flat sleepers with 188cm (74inch) between seats and extra large seat partitions offering what Cho says is "normally the comfort and privacy reserved for First Class passengers on other airlines."
He says that Korean Air's A380 is "one of the most spacious in the industry when you consider that our economy class seats are spaced at 86cm (34inch) apart and our Prestige Class pitch is 188cm (74inch). That's a comfort level that will provide us with a competitive edge."
The airline's A380 will have a total of only 407 seats: 12 first class and 301 economy class seats on the first level, and the 94 Prestige Class seats on the upper deck. It is the first airline to devote the entire A380 second level to the business flyer.
Korean Air has ordered ten A380 aircraft with the first five to be delivered by the end of 2011 and an additional five by 2014. |
