Korean Air to boost Paris capacity, deploy A380s from September
Korean Air has announced plans to increase the frequency of services to Paris CDG in two phases this summer, and deploy its flagship A380 on the route from September.
From 11-Jun-2011 to 16-Jul-2011, Korean Air's daily service from Seoul Incheon (ICN) to the French capital will be supplemented with a twice daily service on Saturdays, taking the carrier's total frequency on the ICN-CDG route to eight times a week. B747-400 aircraft configured with 333 seats will be used.
The number of flights will be increased further in Jul-2011, bringing Korean Air's ICN-CDG frequencies to 10 weekly flights. From 22-Jul-2011 to 25-Sep-2011, flights KE903/904 will increase to three times a week, with the carrier introducing two further services. These additional flights will be served by B777-200ER equipment. The airline's KE901/902 flights will continue to operate their daily service, utilising both the B777-200ER (Mon, Fri) and the B777-300ER (Tue, Wed, Thu, Sat, Sun).
Korean Air will deploy its newest aircraft, the A380 on the ICN-CDG sector every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 26-Sep-2011. The aircraft is configured in a three-class layout with just 407 seats, the lowest configuration of any A380 operator.
The capacity increases will raise Korean Air's share of the Korea-France market from 44% at present to more than 48% this August. SkyTeam partner Air France has a 42% capacity share, according to Innovata. Asiana Airlines has just over 14% of the market.
South Korea to France capacity (seats per week, one way, 30-May-11 to 4-Dec-11)
Korean Air's shares gained 0.9% yesterday, while Asiana rose 1.1%.
Selected Asia Pacific airlines' daily share price movements (% change): 14-Jun-2011
