It is the only hub of two airlines that have superjumbos: here (Dubai aside) is the A380 capital of the world
Of course, Dubai is unreachable. Sometimes you happen to land there and catch a glimpse, so at first glance, of as many as 20 Airbus [...]
Korean Air
Asiana Airlines
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South Korea
Of course, Dubai is unreachable. Sometimes you happen to land there and catch a glimpse, so at first glance, of even twenty Airbus A380s in Emirates colors (which has 116 superjumbos in its fleet). But, removed Dubai, the 'A380 capital' is definitely Seoul.
In this article:
Incheon Airport (and this is unique in the world) is the 'home' of as many as two different airlines that have A380s in their fleets: Korean Air (which has 10) and Asiana (which deploys 6). Sixteen is also the highest number of A380 'residents' at an airport since Dubai International.
The two companies (both 5 Skytrax Stars) will soon become one, after European Union removed its veto on merger between Korea's two major carriers (which together form a 240-plane giant) just in recent days. But in the meantime, Incheon remains the only hub in the world of two different A380 operators.
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Not enough, Korean is also, along with Lufthansa and Air China, one of only three airlines in the world to have in its fleet the latest version of the legendary Boeing 747, the 747-8, Of which it has 9 passenger versions. Do the math, and it is easy to say that Incheon is one of the airports in the world (along with Dubai and Frankfurt) to and from which it is possible to travel aboard a four-engine, now endangered species in the passenger transport landscape.
In detail, from Seoul Korean Air flies A380s twice daily to Los Angeles International.
The 'blue whales' are configured in three classes: on the main deck are three rows of First Class suites in a 1+1+1 configuration for a total of twelve seats, behind which is a 301-seat Economy cabin; on the upper deck, however, is a 94-seat Prestige Business Class 'full-deck cabin' in a 2+2+2 configuration that ends, at the rear, with a small lounge and stand-up bar.
Asiana Instead, it employs its A380 fleet to two destinations. Los Angeles International (twice daily and Sydney (until Feb. 29.). Asiana's six superjumbos are equipped with 12 Business suites in three rows (1+2+1) on the main deck, followed by an Economy cabin, which also continues to the rear of the upper deck, with 417 total seats; upstairs there are also 66 Business Class seats in a 1+2+1 configuration.
Before the Covid outbreak, Korean Air used to use one of its A380s over Paris Charles De Gaulle (Skyteam's main hub in Europe).
With the resumption of traffic after the pandemic, the route has been assigned to a Boeing 747-8, and it seems unlikely that the A380 will be able to return to it, as Korean has announced that all of its superjumbos will exit the fleet by 2026.
