First flight set for Dec. 21

Twice-weekly service on Mondays and Fridays

Expansion of international operations at Yangyang International Airport

Parata Air will operate scheduled flights between Yangyang International Airport and Shanghai Pudong International Airport in China starting Dec. 21. [Provided by Parata Air]
Parata Air will operate scheduled flights between Yangyang International Airport and Shanghai Pudong International Airport in China starting Dec. 21. [Provided by Parata Air]

Parata Air will launch a new international scheduled service connecting Yangyang in Gangwon Province with Shanghai, China, as part of its strategy to expand its aviation network based at Yangyang International Airport.

The airline announced Thursday that flights between Yangyang International Airport and Shanghai Pudong International Airport will begin Dec. 21. Ticket sales open Monday at 10 a.m.

Fares start at 228,200 won ($172), inclusive of fuel surcharges and airport taxes.

The route will operate twice weekly, on Mondays and Fridays, using an Airbus A320-200 configured with 174 seats.

The outbound flight departs Yangyang International Airport at 11:45 p.m. and arrives at Shanghai Pudong International Airport at 2 a.m. the following day, all times local. The return flight departs Shanghai at 3 a.m. and arrives at Yangyang at 6:15 a.m.

Parata Air said it plans to use the new Shanghai service as a springboard to broaden the international flight base at Yangyang International Airport and improve air travel access for residents of Gangwon Province.

The airline began domestic service on the Yangyang–Jeju route in September last year and is now extending its reach to international operations, drawing on experience built through its domestic network. The move is expected to increase route diversity at Yangyang International Airport and allow the carrier to serve a wider range of regional air travel demand.

The new route is particularly significant for giving Gangwon Province residents a new overseas travel option while also opening an access point for Chinese tourists visiting the region. Parata Air said it intends to build a stable operational foundation for the route by tapping two-way passenger demand.

The airline also plans to pair the Yangyang–Shanghai service with an ongoing push to add routes connecting Incheon International Airport to major Chinese cities, building a route network tailored to the needs of different departure points and passenger profiles.

"This Shanghai launch is part of our effort to expand international operations at Yangyang International Airport and broaden flight options for customers in the Gangwon region," a Parata Air official said. "We will continue to closely monitor regional air travel demand and tourism market conditions to ensure stable route operations, while steadily strengthening the air transport links between Gangwon Province and major cities abroad."

Meanwhile, Parata Air recently opened a branch office in Los Angeles as part of its strategy to establish a local presence ahead of an entry into the North American market, appointing Brian Kim as its inaugural branch director.


likehyo85@heraldcorp.com