By Ben Mutzabaugh, USA TODAY
Korean Air says its first Airbus A380 aircraft has entered the final production stages at Airbus’ facility in Toulouse, France.
Delivery of the superjumbo jet — the world’s largest commercial passenger aircraft — is expected to come in May. The carrier has 10 of the jets on order through 2014.
Korean Air says it will configure its A380s “with between 400 and 450 seats,” something the carrier claims will make its versions of the jets “the most spacious A380 anywhere.”
“The reduced seating layout will expand cabin space and provide customers with a truly luxurious air travel experience,” John Jackson, Korean Air’s Americas Marketing Director, says in a press release. “We are designing the cabin to promote relaxing air travel, and will incorporate some unique features to be revealed later.”
Korean Air, which will be the sixth carrier to fly the A380, says it will at first “operate the aircraft for short-haul routes to major cities in Japan and East Asia. Next August, the A380 will start servicing Korean Air’s long-haul routes to the U.S. and Europe.”
That, the airline claims, will make it “the first Asian airline to use the A380 on trans-Pacific routes.”
Korean Air adds “the introduction of the super jumbo aircraft is expected to also increase passengers from China, Japan, and East Asia transferring to the U.S. and Europe, accelerating Incheon International Airport’s goal of becoming a global aviation hub.”
Steele Luxury Gay Travel www.SteeleTravel.com