Asiana to fly 'hotels in the sky'

MANILA, Philippines –  Asiana Airlines (OZ) will soon have “hotels in the sky” in its fleet, the famous reference to the state-of-the-art Airbus A380, which can accommodate 525 passengers. 

The multi-awarded airline announced a purchasing contract with Airbus for six A380 aircraft for delivery between 2014 and 2017. Two aircraft are scheduled for delivery on each year.

Asiana Airlines president and CEO Young-Doo Yoon said, “Asiana’s decision to acquire the A380 was based on the increase in the number of free trade agreements in which Korea is engaged and the recent addition of Korea to the US Visa Waiver Program.”

“Due to favorable factors like these, forecasts indicate a steady and stable five percent yearly increase of passengers to Korea and the Asia-Pacific region. Asiana’s decision to purchase the A380s not only serves to satisfy the increased demand on these long-haul routes, but also fits with the company’s growth strategy coming off a record-breaking financial performance in 2010,” Young-Doo added.

Nicknamed “Superjumbo jets,” the A380s are scheduled to provide the premium flight experience to Asiana routes to the US and Europe. 

Meanwhile, Asiana will submit its customized cabin specifications and cabin layouts to Airbus by the end of the year to ensure that its distinct, high-end service is realized in every aircraft. 

Asiana Airlines is among the distinct few officially ranked as a five-star airline.

The A380 order comes in addition to Asiana’s 2008 contract for the delivery of 30 units of the next generation Airbus A350 XWB (extra wide-bodied) aircraft.

Asiana’s fleet strategy is to operate a core fleet of state-of-the-art and environment-friendly aircraft while providing a world-class travel experience for passengers. 

The multi-awarded airline headquartered at the Incheon International Airport in Korea currently has about 69 aircraft in its growing fleet. It flies to 67 cities across the globe.