Asiana Airlines is bringing the Airbus A380 back into service for the forthcoming 2022 summer season: based on data obtained by the Cirium platform and the company’s website, the superjumbo will once again operate the airline’s main routes to Los Angeles (LAX) and Frankfurt (FRA) from its hub in Seoul – Incheon (ICN) with an offer of 6,930 seats at each destination.
Los Angeles (LAX)
Asiana Airlines currently operates 11 flights per week using Airbus A350-900 aircraft. Starting March 27, 2022, OZ201/OZ202 flights increase daily and switch to the Airbus A380 on the following itinerary:
- Seoul Incheon – Los Angeles OZ201 ICN 14:40 – LAX 09:50+1
- Los Angeles – Seoul Incheon OZ202 LAX 12:10 – ICN 05:35+1
The OZ203/OZ204 flight schedule will be maintained with daily flights operated on Airbus A350-900s. Los Angeles (LAX) was the South Korean airline’s first destination for the superjumbo.
As per data obtained through the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), the Seoul Incheon (ICN) – Los Angeles (LAX) route in 2019 carried 997,058 passengers, Asiana had an offer of two daily flights operated on Airbus A380 and A350-900 and rival Korean Air came to offer between 20-18 weekly flights on Airbus A380 and Boeing 777-300ER.
Seoul Incheon (ICN) is the main Asian destination from Los Angeles (LAX), as well as being one of the main transpacific routes in the Asia-Pacific-US market.
Frankfurt (FRA)
From the beginning of the 2022 summer season, Asiana Airlines brings back the superjumbo on the carrier’s main European route to Frankfurt (FRA) with daily flights on the following itinerary:
- Seoul Incheon – Frankfurt OZ541 ICN 12:00 – FRA 16:30
- Frankfurt – Seoul Incheon OZ542 FRA 18:30 – ICN 11:50+1
In 2017 the Korean carrier began A380 operations to Germany’s main financial hub. Initially, it was kept on the schedule during the winter season, but in view of the success of the superjumbo’s addition to the Asiana route, it decided to keep the service year-round.
Frankfurt (FRA) is the main European destination from Seoul Incheon (ICN), and according to data obtained by Eurostat in 2017, 702,581 passengers were handled on this route. In addition to Asiana’s service, Korean Air operated with its 368-seat Boeing 747-8I and Lufthansa on 371-seat Boeing 747-400s.
Asiana Airlines joins the superjumbo’s return
Asiana joins British Airways, Singapore Airlines, Qatar Airways, and Qantas in resuming A380 operations. The South Korean airline had suspended commercial flights of the superjumbo during the COVID-19 health crisis.
See also: Singapore Airlines gives new life to its A380s and expands international services
See also: The Superjumbo doesn’t give up: Qantas to reinstate A380 ahead of time
See also: New boost for A380 in North America with new British Airways routes
Currently, the company has a total of 6 A380 aircraft in its fleet with an average age of 6.8 years according to the Planespotters site. The superjumbo aircraft are still in storage.
Asiana also once operated A380s to New York (JFK), but later changed to double-daily service with Airbus A350-900s. During the northern winter season, it operated to Sydney (SYD) and several destinations in Asia: Hong Kong (HKG), Bangkok (BKK), Tokyo Narita (NRT), and Shanghai Pudong (PVG).
