Aviation Industry Anticipates With-Corona Era... International Flights Stretching Out

Ahead of the Chuseok holiday, the spread of COVID-19 is accelerating mainly in Seoul and the metropolitan area. On the 16th, the domestic terminal of Gimpo Airport in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, was crowded with passengers. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Dongwoo Lee] As the number of people fully vaccinated against COVID-19 increases, the aviation industry is busy preparing for the resumption of international flights and the 'With Corona' (gradual return to normal life) phase.

According to the industry on the 10th, the authorities of South Korea and Singapore recently agreed on a travel bubble. This is the second travel bubble agreement South Korea has signed, following Saipan (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands) in June.

Separately from this agreement, both countries agreed to mutually recognize vaccination certificates. Travelers from both countries who meet certain conditions are expected to be able to travel relatively freely, whether individually or in groups, starting November 15.

The difference from previous travel bubbles is that the 7-day quarantine and three PCR tests are excluded. However, travelers must meet conditions such as presenting a negative COVID-19 test result before departure and holding insurance that covers COVID-19 treatment costs in case of infection.

This agreement is part of preparations for the 'With Corona' era. According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, as of midnight on the 8th, the first-dose vaccination rate in South Korea is 77.6% of the population, and the full vaccination rate is 56.9%. The full vaccination rate is expected to approach 70% by the 25th.

The aviation industry is also gearing up for international flight operations accordingly. Korean Air will operate the Incheon?Guam route from August and plans to resume regular flights on the Incheon?Hanoi route next month. Operations on the Incheon?Hawaii route are also being prepared. Asiana Airlines will also start operating the Incheon?Guam route twice a week from next month.

Low-cost carriers (LCCs) also plan to resume international flights mainly to Guam and Southeast Asian countries.

Hana Tour, the leading travel agency, switched to normal working hours earlier this month and launched two Singapore travel bubble products. Customers who participated in the Singapore non-landing sightseeing flight in October last year and book these products will receive support for one local COVID-19 PCR test cost.