[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Min-young] The Mongolian government has reportedly notified Korean airlines to suspend flights to Mongolia in order to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).
According to the aviation industry on the 24th, Korean Air has decided to suspend operations on the Incheon-Ulaanbaatar route from the 25th until the 3rd of next month. This route operates six times a week, but due to this measure, flights will not operate for one week.
Asiana Airlines will also suspend operations on the Incheon-Ulaanbaatar route, which operates three times a week, from the 25th until the 2nd of next month.
Countries are increasingly blocking foreigners coming from Korea or strengthening entry procedures due to concerns over the spread of COVID-19.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, six countries have banned entry from Korea: Israel, Bahrain, Jordan, Kiribati, Samoa, and American Samoa.
These countries prohibit entry of foreigners who have visited Korea within 14 days, the incubation period of COVID-19, or require them to stay for 14 days in countries without COVID-19 cases and undergo health checks before entry.
Nine countries, including the United Kingdom and Macau, have strengthened entry procedures such as quarantining arrivals from Korea for a certain period.
There are also countries that have strengthened entry procedures for Koreans without prior notice to the Korean government. Israel sent back Korean passengers who arrived in Tel Aviv on the 22nd (local time) before informing Korea of its policy to ban Korean entries. On the 23rd (local time), the Israeli Ministry of Health announced a ban on entry for foreigners who visited Korea and Japan, where COVID-19 cases surged.
Korean Air has decided to suspend operations on the Incheon-Tel Aviv route, which operated four times a week, until the 28th of next month.
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