The Emirates has launched its first A380 flight at Incheon International Airport, Seoul, South Korea. The first commercial A380 jet to land on Korean soil brought with it passengers from 27 countries including the UAE, Pakistan, Bahrain, Qatar, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, South Africa, Nigeria, Ethiopia and the UK, along with over 10 tons of cargo.
This was announced by Emirates Corporate Communications Executive Noman Siddiqui at a press briefing at a local hotel on Wednesday. Elaborating on the Seoul A380 launch, he said: "We have been connecting Pakistani travellers to Korea for five years now. The launch of the Emirates A380 to South Korea is testament to Emirates' commitment to excel in passenger convenience, especially for Pakistani businessmen travelling to Seoul. Emirates offers convenient transit duration of four hours at Dubai International Airport."
South Korea and Pakistan share robust trade relations. According to statistics of the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan, South Korea is among the top 20 export markets for Pakistan with 2008-09 export value being $245 million. Noman said 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, advancing to daily operation from December 27.