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On the 24th at 10 a. M., Incheon International Airport Terminal 1, 1st Floor, Domestic Departure Hall. With 250 passengers lined up for ticket sales, the airport was very vibrant. It was in contrast to the empty international departure hall on the third floor, as overseas travel was suspended in the wake of a new coronavirus infection (Corona 19).
Passengers aboard the Asiana Airlines ‘380 Round the Korean Peninsula’ plane that left Incheon airport on the 24th are waiting to board. Yeongjongdo = Airport photo reporters.
After checking in and entering the waiting area, many passengers were ready to board fully in advance. Asiana Airlines executives and employees greeted passengers with a broad smile. On this day, Asiana Airlines made a special tourist flight with an A380 aircraft called ‘Hotel in the Sky’. It’s the ‘Flight 380 around the Korean Peninsula’ course that takes off from Incheon Airport at 11am. M., flies over Gangneung, Pohang, Gimhae, and Jeju, then returns to Incheon Airport at 1:20 p.m. M.
On the 24th, the domestic departure hall on the third floor of Incheon International Airport is empty. Reporter Kang Kyung-min
An Asiana Airlines official said: “As a result of the internal review of the flight product using the proposed A380 as an internal idea, marketability was found to be sufficient and this special tourism product was planned.” According to Asiana Airlines, 250 seats, 84.7% of the 295 seats, were occupied that day. The total number of seats for the A380 is 495 seats, but only 295 available seats were operated according to the quarantine guidelines according to Corona 19.
Passengers awaited boarding with their own stories. Jo Sung-woo (60), who accompanied his wife, said, “I always travel abroad with my wife once a year, but this year I couldn’t visit because of Corona 19.” Said. Passengers with small children were also seen everywhere. Kim Myung-ho (45), who arrived with two children in elementary school, said: “I ordered this product to eat meals on board with my children after a long time.”
Many of the passengers queuing for business class boarding were in their 20s and 30s. An Asiana Airlines official said: “When this tourism product was sold, the price difference between economy class and business class was not so great that there was a lot of demand for business class from young people.” The asking price is 305,000 won for the business suites, 255,000 won for the business class, and 205,000 won for the economy class (total amount includes tax). According to Asiana Airlines, the entire business class was sold out 20 minutes after online sales started. A couple in their twenties said, “I bought products as soon as online sales started to settle into the business class, which is generally expensive and difficult to buy.” Traveling YouTubers and bloggers taking pictures with small cameras were also seen everywhere.
When I boarded the bus from the waiting room and entered flight OZ8999, the Asiana Airlines flight attendants greeted the passengers with a broad smile. Flight attendants greeted passengers with latex masks and gloves in accordance with Corona 19 Prevention Guidelines. Flight attendant Lee Hye-rin, who met during the flight, said: “It has been a long time since I saw the bright smiles of the excited passengers on the plane, “he said. He said.
Passengers aboard the Asiana Airlines ‘380 Round the Korean Peninsula’ plane that departed Incheon Airport on the 24th are looking at the scenery outside. Yeongjongdo = Airport Photo Reporters
In accordance with Corona 19 Prevention Guidelines, seats were assigned to one for two and two for three to four. The plane that left Incheon airport at 11 am headed for the East Coast first. Captain Doo-ho Jang, who operated the aircraft that day, explained the course to passengers via an in-flight broadcast. Normally, domestic planes travel at an altitude of 30,000 feet, but with permission from the aviation authorities to allow passengers to see the Korean peninsula, they operated at 10,000 feet.
About 40 minutes after takeoff, the sea entered the East Sea. The plane lowered the altitude making a big turn in the sea facing the East Sea so that you can see the East Sea and Mount Seorak at a glance. Passengers seated by the window seats pressed the camera shutter as they looked at the beautiful scenery. In clear weather without a single cloud, Mount Seorak and the East Sea were clearly visible.
A family passenger aboard the Asiana Airlines ‘380 Round the Korean Peninsula’ aircraft, which departed on the 24th, enjoys lunch with an expression of joy as onboard meal service begins after take-off. Yeongjongdo = Airport photo reporters.
When I passed Gangneung and stretched over Pohang, the food I’d been waiting for came out. The menu was chicken breast pasta with tomato, salad bread, and pie. Alcohol and beverages were not provided in accordance with the Corona 19 Prevention Guidelines. However, passengers were raving about the food they had had in a long time. In addition to onboard meals, snack boxes were provided to the children.
Onboard meals provided to passengers on the 24th’Asiana Airlines’A380 Round the Korean Peninsula ‘aircraft. Reporter Kang Kyung-min
An hour and a half after takeoff, the plane arrived in Jeju. First, Gijang Jang made a big turn to the west coast of Jeju so that Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak and Udo could be seen at a glance. Subsequently, the plane headed to Hallasan, after obtaining approval from the Jeju Airport Control Agency, raised the altitude a little and circled Hallasan Mountain. Then, Baeknokdam’s appearance caught a glance. The image of Sanggodae, an icy tree in full bloom in Baengnokdam, was also clearly visible. The passengers pressed the camera shutter, admiring the stretch. One passenger said: “I can’t believe I can see this clear view of Hallasan Baeknokdam from the sky on a plane.”
The Sanggodae blooms atop Hallasan from the Asiana Airlines’A380 Round the Korean Peninsula ‘plane departing on the 24th. Yeongjongdo = Airport photo reporters
On the way back to Incheon Airport after passing through Jeju, a Lucky Draw event was held to present gifts to passengers through a lottery. A passenger who won the first prize received a round-trip ticket to Southeast Asia. In addition, meals on board, amenity kits (household items), 50% discount coupons for domestic flights and tax-free discount coupons on board were delivered to all passengers.
Passengers aboard the Asiana Airlines’A380 Round the Korean Peninsula aircraft that departed Incheon Airport on the 24th are drawing a lottery at the Lucky Draw event. Yeongjongdo = Airport photo reporters.
The time I arrived at the Incheon airport was 1:40 pm, which was more than 30 minutes. When asked about the feelings of the sightseeing flight, most passengers said they were satisfied. However, some voices of discontent were heard from passengers who were assigned seats in the aisle rather than by the window. It was because I couldn’t see the scenery of the east coast and the Hallasan Baeknokdam mountain properly.
In addition to the raffle event, it was also noted that there would be more miscellaneous events. In addition, there were voices saying that they would like to enjoy various meals on board. Passengers also expressed the opinion that they would like to have duty-free sales on board, even on destinationless flights. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Korean Customs Service are exploring the possibility of allowing “ international tourist flights ”, allowing airlines to sell duty-free products during tourist flights that only go through space. foreign plane without landing from an airplane.
Asiana Airlines plans to operate a special tourist flight using the A380 aircraft on the 25th, 31st and 1st of next month. It is known that the operation of tourist flights is also being reviewed with various events for the end of the year and end of the year holidays. An Asiana Airlines official said: “It will be a win-win opportunity for both airlines and travelers in terms of efficient use of airplanes and quenching the thirst for travel.”
The airline industry expects this product to have a win-win effect for airlines and passengers who miss out on air travel. Regular operations are required to maintain the qualifications of the pilots of the A380 aircraft. According to the aviation security law enforcement regulations, pilots must experience three or more takeoffs and landings within 90 days to maintain the qualification of a specific aircraft type. For this reason, Asiana Airlines once flew the A380 as an empty aircraft in a situation where international demand disappeared and it was unable to maintain long-haul routes.
Reporter Kang Kyung-min [email protected]
