Korea will increase international flights for the upcoming summer season to above pre-pandemic levels, while moving to resume connections between Incheon International Airport in Seoul and Jeju Island for the first time in nearly a decade, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said.
The Transport Ministry has also finalised regular flight schedules for the period from 29 March to 24 October, based on applications from domestic and foreign airlines.
International flights higher than pre-pandemic levels
International flights will run up to 4,820 times a week across 245 routes, up 0.8 percent (in increase of 37 flights) from the same period a year earlier.
This translates to 4.4 percent higher than 2019 levels before the Covid-19 pandemic.
On international routes, a Busan–Miyakojima (Japan) service has been newly added. The Incheon–Montreal by Air Canada, Incheon–Calgary by Westjet, and Incheon–Zagreb routes by T’way Air, which were suspended last winter, will resume operations.
Low-cost carriers selected as replacement operators following the Korean Air–Asiana Airlines merger will also begin services from Incheon to Honolulu, Hawaii and Jakarta in Indonesia.
Korean Air had earlier announced that it will extend the suspension of its Incheon-Dubai flights through April 19 due to the ongoing military conflict in the Middle East.
Incheon-Jeju Island route restored after 10 years
This summer’s domestic routes total 20, combining Jeju routes and inland routes, with 1,806 weekly flights. Of these, Jeju routes account for 1,534 weekly flights. The transfer-only domestic service connecting Gimhae and Incheon has been increased by four flights per week.
The new Jeju–Incheon route will be launched as early as May, marking the route’s first resumption since it was suspended in October 2016.
Domestic flights will total 1,806 per week across 20 routes, including 12 serving Jeju Island, down by 44 flights from a year earlier. Jeju routes will account for the majority with 1,534 weekly flights.
The ministry also plans to expand routes between Incheon and other regional airports in the second half of the year.
Asiana to expand China network due to increasing demand
Asiana Airlines will expand its China network by adding 28 weekly flights — a 20 percent increase from the winter schedule — starting on 29 March as travel demand rebounds. China has also extended its visa-free entry policy for Korean nationals through the end of this year.
The airline will operate 161 weekly flights on 18 China routes under the new schedule which include resumption of flights to Chengdu, home of the giant pandas, and Chongqing.
The number of flights from Incheon to Tianjin, Nanjing, Changchun and Yanji routes will also increase.
