Korean Air to operate lowest density A380 configuration
Korean Air on 28-Dec-2010 confirmed plans to commence A380 operations in May-2011. The airline will configure the aircraft with 407 seats: 12 first class and 301 economy seats on the main deck and 94 prestige-class (business) seats on the upper deck. The carrier has chosen not to opt for a premium economy cabin.
Korean Air’s configuration marks the lowest density A380 configuration to date with the carrier to become the only carrier to have the entire second floor of A380 dedicated to the business class product.
Known A380 configurations
|
Airline |
First |
Business |
Premium economy |
Economy |
Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
12 |
94 |
- |
301 |
407 |
|
|
- |
- |
- |
- |
400-450 |
|
|
14 |
72 |
32 |
332 |
450 |
|
|
12 |
60 |
- |
399 |
471 |
|
|
Emirates (ultra long range) |
14 |
76 |
- |
399 |
489 |
|
9 |
80 |
38 |
389 |
516 |
|
|
Emirates (long range) |
14 |
76 |
- |
427 |
517 |
|
9 |
98 |
420 |
526 |
||
|
9 |
80 |
- |
499 |
538 |
|
|
Emirates (medium range) |
- |
- |
- |
- |
600 |
|
0 |
0 |
0 |
About 840 |
About 840 |
The upgrade coincides with a recovery in premium traffic demand and is part of efforts by the Seoul-based carrier to reposition itself as a leading premium carrier. As previously noted in a separate report - Cathay unveils new Business class product; Flurry of worldwide overhaul activity – a number of carriers in the region there has been a flurry of overhaul activity recently, particularly focussed around premium product upgrades, in the belief that this is the key to their financial success.
Meanwhile, there has been speculation that Singapore Airlines will extend the business-class cabin on all new A380s to cover the entire upper deck, beginning with the May-2011 arrival of the carrier's 12th A380. The carrier has not confirmed or denied the plans with the carrier stating only: “It is possible that we may have a different configuration for some of the aircraft. But as of now we don't have any specific detail. We don't comment on speculation, and specifically with regards to aircraft configuration, for reasons of confidentiality."
Korean to have 94 lie-flat business sleepers; 74-inch seat pitch
Korean Air's 94 lie-flat business sleepers will offer 74-inche seat pitch and extra large seat partitions. This makes Korean Air’s business-class A380 product one of the most generous for seat pitch, although Qantas Airways does have a more generous seat pitch. The Korean Air configuration is designed to “further reinforce” the carrier’s reputation as a leading premium passenger flight service provider.
In service A380 business-class configurations
|
Airline |
Seat Pitch |
Seat Width |
Video Type |
Laptop Power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
55.0" |
34.0" |
Personal TV |
None |
|
|
48" |
18.5" |
Personal TV |
AC Power |
|
|
57-60.0" |
19.6" |
Personal TV |
None |
|
|
80.0" |
21.5" |
Personal TV |
None |
|
|
55.0" |
34.0" |
Personal TV |
None |
Korean Air Senior VP and Head of Passenger Business Division Walter Cho commented: "Korean Air's A380 is one of the most spacious in the industry when you consider that our economy class seats are spaced almost three feet apart and our Prestige Class pitch is over six feet. That's a comfort level that will provide us with a competitive edge.”
Mr Cho added that the unique configuration will allow Korean Air business flyers "to feel exclusivity like they're traveling in their own private jet", adding: “This innovative approach to dedicate an entire floor for a single class will be benchmarked by other airlines."
Largest economy-seat pitch
The carrier will have 34-inch seat pitch in economy class, making it the most spacious economy A380 configuration to date.
In service A380 economy-class configurations
|
Airline |
Seat Pitch |
Seat Width |
Video Type |
Laptop Power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
32.0" |
19.0" |
Personal TV |
None |
|
|
32.0" |
18.0" |
Personal TV |
AC Power |
|
|
31.0" |
20.5" |
Personal TV |
None |
|
|
31.0" |
18.1" |
Personal TV |
None |
|
|
32.0" |
19.0" |
Personal TV |
None |
A380 service to be launched on services to Japan and East Asia in May-2011
The airline will launch its A380s on short-haul routes to Japan and East Asia in May-2011 and then expand to US and European routes in Aug-2011. Korean Air has ordered 10 A380 aircraft with the first five to be delivered by the end of 2011 and an additional five by 2014.