Asiana Signs Deal to Receive A380

Asiana Airlines (President & CEO: Young-Doo Yoon) and Airbus signed a purchasing contract for the A380, known as a premium hotel in the sky, on the 6th of January 2011.

According to this contract, Asiana Airlines will receive a total of 6 A380s starting from 2014 and continuing to 2017 from Airbus (Two a year in 2014, 2015 and 2017 respectively).

By the end of the year, Asiana will request state-of-the-art cabin specifications and innovative cabin layouts when filing its production order with Airbus to see that Asiana’s distinct, high-end service is realized aboard the new aircraft. Asiana will receive its first A380 in 2014 and will operate this aircraft on its routes to the U.S. or Europe.

Asiana Airlines President & CEO Young-Doo Yoon stated, “Asiana’s decision to acquire the A380 was based on the increase in the number of FTAs in which Korea is engaged and the recent addition of Korea to the U.S. Visa Waiver Program (VWP). Due to favorable factors like these, forecasts indicate a steady and stable 5% 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.

This new contract is in addition to the existing contract Asiana signed in July of 2008 with Airbus to secure the delivery of 30 of Airbus’s newly developed mid/long-ranged next generation A350 extra-wide-bodied aircraft. Asiana’s fleet strategy is to operate a core fleet of state-of-the-art, environmentally-friendly, next-generation aircraft to secure its place as a socially conscious global airline.