Korean Air's A380 to have fewer seats

Korean Air is to configure its Airbus A380 aircraft with just 407 seats, the lowest-density layout for the type of any carrier so far. The airline has disclosed details of its seating arrangement for the twin-deck aircraft, which will include an all-business upper deck. Korean Air says this deck will have 94 lie-flat sleeper seats, with 74in pitch.

This will give business passengers a sense of "exclusivity", says passenger business division chief Walter Cho.
Travellers on the upper deck will be able to feel "like they're travelling in their own private jet", he adds.
On the lower deck there will be 12 first-class and 301 economy-class seats. Korean Air is to put the aircraft into service in May 2011, initially on short-haul routes to Japan and eastern Asia.

These initial routes will be followed by longer A380 services to the USA and Europe in August.
It has 10 of the type on order, and five will arrive by the end of next year.
Cho says the aircraft's layout will have a level of comfort that will "provide us with a competitive edge".
Five other carriers operate the A380, with Air France's jets fitted with the highest-density layout of 538 seats.