Monday, September 9, 2024 Korean Air expands routes in China and Japan, resuming services and boosting flight frequencies to meet growing demand in key markets. South Korea’s flagship carrier, Korean Air, is set to broaden its network across China and Japan, with a slew of resumed and newly enhanced routes. This expansion comes as the airline looks to meet rising demand while reinforcing its presence in these key markets.
Among the routes making a comeback are the Seoul Incheon-Mudanjiang and Busan-Qingdao services. Flights from Incheon to Mudanjiang will resume on October 22, operating five times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Meanwhile, the Busan-Qingdao route will take off again on December 1, offering daily flights to the Chinese city.
Strengthening Connections with China and Taiwan Korean Air is also increasing its reach within China. As of August 12, the airline upgraded its Seoul Incheon-Zhengzhou service to a daily flight, up from four flights per week. Additionally, the Seoul Incheon-Xiamen route will see more flights starting from October 1 to cater to growing demand.
In Taiwan, the Seoul Incheon-Taichung service is currently running four times a week—on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays—through October 26. From October 27, this route will expand to daily flights, marking a significant push into the Taiwanese market. By December, Korean Air aims to restore nearly 95 percent of its pre-pandemic capacity for flights to China, reflecting a robust recovery in this sector.
Reviving Links with Japan Korean Air is also reestablishing its connection to Japan, with the relaunch of its Seoul Incheon-Nagasaki route for the winter season. Starting on October 27, this service will run four times weekly on Mondays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, offering more travel options to the culturally rich city of Nagasaki. This marks a major milestone, as the route has been dormant for over 11 years.
The airline is also ramping up its flights between Seoul Incheon and Osaka to cater to the expected surge in travel during autumn. From September 2 to October 26, Korean Air will operate four daily flights on this route, an increase from the current three daily flights. By the end of the year, the airline is aiming to exceed pre-pandemic levels of capacity to Japan, targeting 106 percent of its 2019 operations.
This aggressive expansion underscores Korean Air’s commitment to reconnecting travelers with key destinations in Asia..
