Emirates begins first A380 service to South Korea
New flights to Seoul will expand to daily operation
Dubai: The aviation world's first A380 operation to Seoul, and Emirates' first A380 flight to North East Asia touched down to a vibrant and colourful welcome at Incheon International Airport yesterday afternoon.
The first commercial A380 jet to land on Korean soil brought with it passengers from 27 countries including the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, South Africa, Nigeria, Ethiopia and the UK, and over 10 tonnes of cargo.
The new service demonstrates Emirates' investment in the Korean economy, perfectly timed to support ‘Visit Korea Year' in 2010. It will operate initially on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and becoming a daily operation from December 27.
A high-level Emirates delegation led by President Tim Clark travelled on the first A380 flight.
On arrival the delegation was welcomed by C.W. Lee, President and CEO of Incheon International Airport Corporation, and a high-level Korean dele-gation as well as over 120 government dignitaries and media personnel.
Clark said: "Emirates is delighted to launch Korea's first A380 service. Our partners at Incheon International Airport have invested heavily to make the airport a world-class A380 facility and for this we thank them."
Close relations
The UAE and Korea share close relations, strengthened further by the high-profile visits of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to Korea in May 2007, and the late Noh Moo-Hyun, then president of Korea, to the UAE in 2007.
Korea is a major stakeholder in Dubai's expansion and Korean companies are involved in some of the most high-profile projects in the emirate. Korea is also one of the UAE's leading trade partners with more than 150 per cent growth in trade over the past five years.
The UAE, particularly Dubai, is home to the Arab world's largest Korean community. Almost 1,000 Koreans work for Emirates alone, primarily as cabin crew.
Emirates A380 operation will support the Korean government's drive to make Incheon International Airport a major Asian hub.
Seoul is Emirates' sixth A380 destination.
