Korean Air expands China and Japan networks

South Korean flag-carrier Korean Air announced the upcoming expansion of its route networks in China and Japan.

The airline plans to resume several routes to the two nations even as it increases the number of flights plying popular routes.

Among those slated for resumption are Korean Air’s Seoul Incheon-Mudanjiang and Busan-Qingdao services. The former takes off beginning 22nd October, while the latter take flight from 1st December. 

Korean Air’s Seoul Incheon-Mudanjiang route flies five times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. The Busan-Qingdao route, on the other hand, is slated to fly daily.

Heading into China and Taiwan

Korean Air expanded its Seoul Incheon-Zhengzhou route from four weekly flights to a daily service as of 12th August. 

At the same time, it will schedule more flights for its Seoul Incheon-Xiamen route beginning 1st October.

From 10 September to 26 October, Korean Air’s Seoul Incheon-Taichung flies four times on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Beginning 27th October, the airline will further increase the frequency to a daily run to boost its presence in the Taiwanese aviation sector.

By December of this year, Korean Air hopes that its flights to China will reach around 95 percent of the capacity seen back in December 2019.

Relaunching into Japan

Korean Air is also slated to relaunch its Seoul Incheon-Nagasaki route for the winter season after a break of more than 11 years. 

Beginning 27th October, the route operates four times weekly on Mondays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, opening up new travel opportunities to the historic Japanese city.

There will likewise be a temporary increase in flights on the Seoul Incheon-Osaka route between 2 September and 26 October. Korean Air is slated to operate four daily flights on top of its three current daily flights. This enhanced schedule seeks to accommodate a surge in travel to Osaka for much of the autumn.

September 2 to October 26, the airline will operate four daily flights, up from the existing three daily flights. This enhancement will accommodate the anticipated surge in autumn travel to this popular Japanese destination.

The airline hopes to achieve 106 percent of its pre-pandemic capacity to Japan by the end of this year.