Korean Air Modifies European Summer Operations

South Korea’s national airline Korean Air is to make some notable adjustments to its European network this summer including the introduction of Airbus A380 services into the Continent. The carrier will split its existing link from Seoul Incheon to Amsterdam and Madrid, while its Frankfurt route will be its second European destination to be served by its SuperJumbos.

Korean Air currently offers a three times weekly service on the Seoul Incheon – Madrid – Amsterdam – Seoul Incheon route but will eliminate the stop from May 3, 2012 and introduce individual three times weekly flights to each European capital - Madrid will continue to be served by a Boeing 777-200ER, while the new direct Amsterdam link will be flown by an A330-300.

In the past year an estimated 76,000 O&D passengers travelled between Seoul Incheon and Madrid and approximately 59,499 between Seoul Incheon and Amsterdam. Both markets have witnessed growth with traffic levels up 24.5 per cent and 14.5 per cent, respectively. Korean Air is the sole carrier to currently offer links to the South Korean capital from Madrid, but it competes with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines from Amsterdam and has seen its share of traffic slip significantly over the past 12 months.

The selection of Frankfurt as the second European destination for the A380 has been a slight surprise as many analysts where believing the slot constrained London Heathrow would be the likely first city. However, Korean Air has developed a dual-airport strategy in the UK capital and will instead offer additional flights between Seoul Incheon and London Gatwick, complementing its existing Seoul Incheon – London Heathrow route.

The A380 is scheduled to make its debut on the Seoul Incheon - Frankfurt route from March 25, 2012 replacing 777-200 and -300 equipment. The airline currently has a 27 per cent share of the estimated 314,000 O&D passengers that travelled on the route and the A380 will enable Korean Air to offer differentiate the product it offers in a market where it competes with Asiana Airlines and Lufthansa.

Elsewhere in Europe, Korean Air will also increase frequencies between Seoul Incheon and Paris CDG from a daily schedule to nine rotations per week; will increase capacity between the South Korean capital and Prague by switching its four times weekly Prague service from a 777 to a 747-400 and will add a fifth flight to Moscow Sheremetyevo during the peak season.