Each week, airlines submit schedule and equipment changes to Cirium Diio, OAG, etc. In the latest update, Asiana confirmed the return of the Airbus A380 to New York JFK, which is the US’s sixth-busiest airport by passenger traffic.

Do not misunderstand. The South Korean carrier used the double-decker quadjet to the Big Apple between 2015 and 2019 and again in 2025. It’s just that, until the most recent update, it was not due to return in 2026. Now it will. It is, therefore, a notable development.

Asiana’s Superjumbos Will Be Back At JFK

Credit: Shutterstock

Asiana (and Korean Air) are renowned for their relatively last-minute schedule changes, including to their A380 routes. As first identified by Aeroroutes, Asiana has confirmed that the double-decker will be flown to JFK between March 29 and October 24. This correlates to the northern aviation summer based on IATA slot seasons. Asiana has now doubled its North American A380 network, with JFK flights joining those to Los Angeles.

Perhaps surprisingly, the 495-seater will operate at JFK for much longer than it did last year. In all, Asiana plans 210 departures on the type this year, up from just 91 in 2025—a rise of 131%. It’ll return to the frequency that was last available in 2019.

The extended season could mean various things. First, that it was sufficiently happy with the performance last year, relative to what else could be done with the massive equipment, or it’d not return at all or for a shorter period. Second, that it has few other places to which it could feasibly fly. Third, that more changes are coming, especially given its record for modifying plans.

That Makes Three A380 Airlines To JFK In 2026

Credit: Shutterstock

When writing on February 6, and subject to change, Asiana will join Emirates and Korean Air in using the type to the US’s busiest international gateway. According to Cirium data, they collectively plan 1,602 departures across the year, down by 15% year-over-year, which is a much smaller reduction than was previously expected.

The decrease is because Etihad and Lufthansa no longer use the type there. Etihad swapped the 486-seat A380 for the 371-seat A350-1000 in June 2025. Meanwhile, Lufthansa’s last 509-seat superjumbo service was in October 2025, with the 267-seat A350-900 replacing it.

Related

Emirates Slashes 20% Flights On Massive 615-Seat A380s: Full List Of Dropped Routes

What is behind this surprising move? Discover which destinations are losing Emirates’ low-premium 615-seat A380s.

How JFK’s A380 Flights Have Varied Each Year

Credit: Cirium Diio

Unsurprisingly, Emirates was JFK’s first A380 operator. Its debut took place in August 2008, and it was the Gulf giant’s initial superjumbo route to North America. When all carriers are considered, it was the first scheduled double-decker service to the continent. Since then, Emirates has provided 43% of JFK’s superjumbo services.

While Asiana’s return means the type will now have 1,602 departures from JFK, it is still down by 60% compared to the record in 2017. In that year, seven airlines used the A380 there: Air France, Asiana, Emirates, Etihad, Korean Air, Lufthansa, and Singapore Airlines. They had up to 13 daily departures, although that was still only equivalent to 8% of JFK’s international twin-aisle outbound flights. It was another era completely.