New direct China routes from regional airports

Yangyang, Muan airports also gain new connections

Incheon Airport's apron area is seen last month. [Yonhap]
Incheon Airport's apron area is seen last month. [Yonhap]

South Korea is set to open new direct flights from regional airports to China and expand low-cost carrier access on major routes out of Incheon, broadening the country's international air network.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said Wednesday it had allocated traffic rights for 25 international air routes to 10 domestic airlines following a review by the Aviation Traffic Deliberation Committee. The allocation focused on recovering South Korea-China passenger demand, revitalizing regional airports and widening consumer choice.

New China routes from regional airports were the most prominent feature of the distribution. Direct flights will connect Busan, Cheongju and Daegu to major Chinese cities including Chengdu, Harbin, Dalian and Xiamen. Key allocations include Busan to Chengdu (four times weekly) and Harbin (four times weekly), Busan to Hangzhou (twice weekly), Cheongju to Dalian (three times weekly), and Daegu to Beijing and Xiamen (three times weekly each). Yangyang Airport, set to resume international service for the first time in more than four years by year's end, received routes to Shanghai and Hangzhou, each operating three times a week. Muan Airport also secured traffic rights for routes to Beijing, Shanghai, Yanji and Zhangjiajie.

At Incheon Airport, traffic rights on major routes to Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou — previously dominated by full-service carriers — were opened to low-cost carriers and other new entrants to encourage price and service competition and expand options for travelers. Newly secured traffic rights for the Czech Republic will also allow the launch of Central European service. Routes to major Chinese cargo hubs including Tianjin and Ezhou were also allocated, which the ministry said would help strengthen air logistics supply chains for South Korean exporters and importers.

"The efforts we have made to secure traffic rights with a focus on revitalizing regional airports and matching supply to demand are now bearing fruit in the form of actual new routes launching this year," said Jung Chae-gyo, director general for aviation policy at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. "Although high fuel costs stemming from Middle East tensions have increased the burden on airlines, we will support carriers in launching these routes without disruption so that the public can feel the benefits of an expanded air network."

Meanwhile, South Korea's aviation industry invested a combined 13.31 trillion won ($9.89 billion) in safety last year, up 115.5 percent from 6.18 trillion won the previous year, according to ministry data. However, the sharp increase largely reflects a methodological change: costs for acquiring new aircraft and hiring flight and cabin crew were newly included in the definition of safety investment.


hwshin@heraldcorp.com