After a delay in its plans, Korean Air now says it will fly its A380 super jumbo jet to Atlanta starting in August.
The carrier had previously planned to start flying the 407-seat Airbus A380 on its Atlanta-Seoul route early this month. But last year those plans got delayed, and Korean Air now says August is the best time to launch the A380 in Atlanta.
Hartsfield-Jackson general manager Louis Miller has said the A380 would “enhance Atlanta’s reputation as a world-class city and gateway to the United States.” The airport is spending about $30 million on improvements to prepare for the A380, including gate modifications to serve the double-decker jet on Concourse E and widening of taxiways and runways.
Korean Air, a partner of Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines, first launched flights to Atlanta in December 1994. It already flies the A380 to Los Angeles, New York, Hong Kong and Frankfurt.
Korean Air’s A380s have cocktail lounges and a duty-free shop, along with 301 economy class seats, 94 lie-flat seats and 12 first-class suites.
The Airbus A380 debuted in 2007 and already flies to other U.S. airports. The newer Boeing 787 Dreamliner was grounded earlier this month after a series of problems with the aircraft.
About the Author
