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Korean Air resumes Airbus A380 service at Frankfurt after more than a decade

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Korean Air resumes Airbus A380 service at Frankfurt after more than a decade
Policy
Webp cho
Walter Cho, Chairman, CEO | Korean Air

Frankfurt Airport is set to see the return of Korean Air's Airbus A380 aircraft after more than a decade. The South Korean airline will resume regular A380 flights to Frankfurt starting October 26, 2025, according to its booking engine. This marks the first time since March 2014 that Korean Air's double-decker jets will operate scheduled services at Europe’s sixth-busiest airport.

The decision follows Asiana Airlines' recent return of its A380s to Frankfurt in August. Korean Air holds nearly 64% ownership of Asiana. Both airlines have previously switched routes for their A380 operations with little notice, so future changes remain possible.

Korean Air’s A380s are configured with 407 seats: 12 Kosmo suites (all on the lower deck), 94 business class seats (upper deck), and 301 economy seats (lower deck). The aircraft will replace the Boeing 777-300ER on four weekly flights between Seoul Incheon and Frankfurt, increasing seat capacity per departure by about 47%. Premium seating—first and business class—will make up 26% of available seats on the route, an eight-point rise compared to the previous configuration using the 777.

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Flight schedules for winter 2025/2026 indicate departures from Seoul Incheon to Frankfurt on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays at 11:25 local time, arriving in Frankfurt at 17:20. Return flights leave Frankfurt at 19:30 and arrive in Seoul at 15:05 the following day.

Passenger demand between Seoul and Frankfurt remains strong. From July 2024 to June 2025, around 425,000 round-trip passengers traveled this route—an average of over a thousand people daily—making it one of Korea’s largest European markets after Paris Charles de Gaulle. The area around Frankfurt hosts Germany’s largest South Korean community and numerous Korean businesses.

Currently, four airlines operate flights between Seoul and Frankfurt: Asiana, Korean Air, Lufthansa, and T’Way Air. Only Paris CDG has as many operators on this route. Budget carrier T’Way entered the market in October 2024 after Air Premia exited in 2023.

This winter season is expected to see four airlines flying A380s into Frankfurt: Asiana (four weekly from Seoul), Emirates (daily from Dubai), Korean Air (four weekly from Seoul), and Singapore Airlines (daily from Singapore). Lufthansa now operates its A380s exclusively out of Munich due to disagreements over fees with Frankfurt Airport authorities.

Historically, six airlines operated A380s into Frankfurt during winter 2019/2020 before the pandemic reduced such activity. At that time, Frankfurt was among the top airports globally for double-decker departures but is projected to rank much lower this coming winter.

"Frankfurt Airport is a haven for quadjet aircraft, particularly the Boeing 747 and the Airbus A340, and—to a lesser degree—the A380. Korean Air is the latest operator to confirm the return of the A380 to Europe’s sixth-busiest airport," according to Aeroroutes.

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