Korean Air to dedicate entire A380 deck to Business Class

Korean Air, which launches its first A380 service in May of this year, will dedicate the entire upper deck of the aircraft to business class flyers.

“The unique configuration of the two-storey A380 aircraft will allow Korean Air business flyers to feel exclusivity like they’re travelling in their own private jet,” said Soon Young Lee, Managing Vice President of Korean Air and head of the Southeast Asia Regional Headquarter.

Korean Air’s business seating, called Prestige Class, will have 94 lie-flat sleepers with 188cm (74 inch) between seats and extra large seat partitions offering what Lee says is “normally the comfort and privacy reserved for First Class passengers on other airlines”.

The airline’s A380 will have a total of only 407 seats: 12 first class and 301 economy class seats on the first level and the 94 Prestige Class seats on the upper deck. It is the first airline to devote the entire A380 second level to the business flyer.

Korean Air has ordered 10 A380 aircraft with the first five to be delivered by the end of 2011 and an additional five by 2014.

The airline will launch its A380s on short haul routes to Japan and East Asia in May, and then expand to Korean Air’s US and European routes in August 2011.