South Korea and China Expand Air Travel Options with New International Routes

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has allocated additional international air transport rights, focusing on routes to China, in response to the growing passenger demand between South Korea and China. Direct flights connecting major Chinese cities from regional airports such as Busan, Cheongju, and Daegu are expected to expand.

On September 15, the ministry announced that it had distributed air transport rights for 25 international routes to 10 national airlines following a review by the Air Traffic Review Committee.

This allocation aims to expand international routes between the two countries in line with the recent increase in passenger demand. The distribution of various Chinese route rights to regional airports is intended to enhance travel convenience for local residents and boost the influx of foreign tourists to these areas.

In Busan, new routes to Chengdu (four times a week), Harbin (four times a week), and Hangzhou (twice a week) are anticipated. Cheongju will see three weekly flights to Dalian, while Daegu will receive rights for three weekly flights to both Beijing and Xiamen.

Yangyang Airport, which is expected to resume international flights for the first time in nearly four years by the end of this year due to the allocation of rights in April, will also receive additional rights for three weekly flights to Shanghai and three to Hangzhou. Muan Airport has secured rights for three weekly flights each to Beijing and Shanghai, and two weekly flights each to Yanji and Zhangjiajie.

At Incheon Airport, air transport rights for major Chinese routes, which have primarily been operated by full-service carriers like Korean Air, will now be expanded to include low-cost carriers and new airlines. This move aims to promote competition among airlines and broaden consumer choices.

As a result, the frequency of flights from Incheon to Beijing will increase from 38 to 52 per week, while flights to Shanghai will rise from 56 to 63. Services to Guangzhou and Dalian will expand from 21 to 28 weekly flights each. Nanjing will see an increase from 11 to 14 weekly flights, and flights to Changsha and Hangzhou will grow from 10 to 14 each.

The newly secured rights for routes to the Czech Republic will also be allocated to expand operations to Central Europe. Rights connecting to Chinese cargo hub airports such as Tianjin and Ezhou will be distributed to support the supply chain of domestic export and import companies.

Jung Chae-kyu, head of the aviation policy office at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, acknowledged that the recent high oil prices due to conflicts in the Middle East have increased operational burdens for the airline industry. However, he emphasized the ministry's commitment to supporting airlines that receive these rights to ensure smooth operations and to meet consumer demand for new routes.